"Jesus Loves Me"

I know Jesus loves me,

He’s made it very clear,

When push comes to shove me,

I do not have to fear.

He is my strong defender,

I have His armor on,

No longer a pretender,

My secrets are long gone.

His love, it has transformed me,

Made me want to do His will,

He has never scorned me,

With His Spirit He will fill,

And when He does I’m able,

In Christ to do all things,

He steadies so I’m stable,

And constant grace He brings.

So I am going to shout it,

And celebrate that grace,

And there’s no doubt about it,

Until I see His face,

When my time has ended,

And I leave for heaven’s shore,

Thank God that He befriended,

And will give me even more.

Forever there together,

With my family in the sky,

Nothing here can sever,

What will happen by and by.

Don’t let your tears be many,

I’ll be close, just over there,

And there is grace a-plenty,

We are safely in His care.

“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10, NAS)

This sacrificial love changes everything and everyone who receives it. It is the love that God showed us through Jesus, and it is immeasurable in its scope. The love is not because we love Him, mind you, but because in spite of our sins He loves us. We are His choice and the object of His affection. He is supremely proactive about it, not waiting for us but going after us even when we are stubborn and rebellious. He pursues us, turns us and empowers us to live in fellowship with Him. His love motivates and energizes holy living, and nothing else will. All guilt, shame, condemnation, and legalism fall short of the transforming power of God’s love. He casts out selfishness and fear, and replaces it with humble confidence in His highest and best. Get to know the love.

Lord, help us fully cooperate with Your love, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Teal Blake, used by permission. Thanks, Teal, and God bless you.