Jesus Loves Me and You....Really!

Do you remember a time when you did not feel loved?  Are you living in that cloud currently? 

Hopefully it has been a long, long time; or perhaps you've never felt unloved.  Most of us, however, aren't as fortunate or as aware.  I am not saying we weren't loved; I am saying we didn't feel it or believe it or enjoyed the knowledge of it. 

Consider Marc's story (not his name):
Marc's parents went A.W.O.L. pretty early.  He ended up with grand-parents.  Nothing unusual so far, huh?  The message Marc received was that he was not good enough or worth enough to others for adults to stick around.  Trouble found him about the same time he found it.  With a brief period of "acceptance" based on performance (there were a few things he was really good at) Marc felt the pressure to prove to others that he was worth loving or having for a friend, or for a son.  Talents seem to fade when accidents and injuries steal muscle tone and quickness.  Then the physical strength mirrors the decline of the soul, or at least it did for Marc.  Not until recently did Marc find love without condition in Jesus Christ.  He now has a few solid friends and hope for a future based on the tenacious love of Jesus Who tracked him down and lifted Marc up.  Marc's life is a miracle, and I have seen the influence of love.  Though you could have fooled Marc along the way, he was always loved by God, the Father, and was always wanted and valued by Jesus.  Those in Marc's life with the authority and honor to represent God's love to him failed and failed big-time!  Since they would not love Marc well, Jesus sent others and then broke through into Marc's heart to convince him personally, privately that God has always loved him and welcomed Marc into the forever family.

I know Marc was loved by others along the way, but maybe they didn't know how to communicate it or picked really dysfunctional ways to try to show it.  You know what I mean, don't you!

Some try to love us by working and paying bills and buying clothes or cars or stuff; but when it comes to love that is passionate, deep and inclusive, there is a breakdown and we get the stuff but not the closeness.  We get some good stuff, but not the great stuff of God's love that is tender, welcoming, approving, accepting, and comforting.  That stuff that all need and crave somehow is left out...mostly unintentionally, I feel.

The love of Jesus is very personal and deep.  Yes, it includes the physical stuff of air, food, shelter, etc. for most, but it also is warm and tender, strong and lasting, and it invites us into a lasting relationship with God. 

This love of Jesus is also very spiritual.  That's right, spiritual.  He knows our spiritual life can be filled with all kinds of "gods" that aren't God and spiritual stuff that is not only not from His Holy Spirit but actually from an unholy source that attempts to corrupt us or get us to settle for counterfeit faith in a counterfeit "god".  We need mercy, forgiveness, peace, joy, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control, and above all --- we need love of the Jesus variety.  Only God possesses and offers these commodities that, though initially spiritual, include the physical and the emotional, as well. 

So, as my sweet wife said tonight, "Unless you believe you are loved and know it deeply, it is difficult to love others well."  She and Jesus agree.  He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor (near ones) as you love yourself."  I married a very wise woman; she married a wise-guy.  :)

Marc knows much more deeply tonight that God loves him, others love him too.  I think he may be in the early stages of liking himself and seeing through new eyes into a future with hope rather than despair and life worth living versus the suicidal tracks his ancestors left for him to follow.  By the grace of our Lord Jesus, Marc will choose to live abundantly rather than die at his own hands.

See what I mean?  Jesus Loves Me and You....Really!