Jesus Loves Me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so;
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:4-5)
Taking Refuge Under God's Wings of Love
Man, dead in trespasses and sin. God, rich in mercy and great with love. His eyes of compassion see man—fallen, hopeless, indifferent to the things of God. Man, no more than a dead soul, a confused corpse, doomed and desperate. Conformed to the world, slave to Satan, prone to sin, child of wrath. But God, abundant in mercy. But God, great with love. A love that penetrates the depths of man’s soul to pardon, to cleanse, to relieve. Mankind, rescued from the wrath of God, cleansed by the Blood of His Son, made alive with Christ, seated in heavenly places—members of His household.
The love of God is beyond our comprehension. It reaches the highest realms of heaven, the lowest depths of the sea. His love encircles all the earth. There is nowhere we can escape His love reaching to us. In darkness and in light, He is there nurturing us, caring for us, faithful to us. God is love. His love is perfect, complete, and pure. His kindness beyond measure; affection beyond comprehension; devotion beyond understanding. What a glorious hope we have because of His love. We are partakers of the eternal fountain that is overflowing with His mercies. He is filling us with His love.
Do you know God’s love? What heartaches has He walked through with you? What people has He brought into your life? What disasters has He protected you from? Only when you have taken refuge under His wings in a storm, felt His warm embrace when spurned by those you love, heeded His gentle guidance protecting you from ruin, can you be certain that Almighty God cares for you. There are many things you have been told about God, things you’ve heard about God, and even things you’ve said about Him, but until you experience the heartaches and trials, the pleasures and victories, you cannot fully understand His love for you personally. Your life experiences—God’s classroom—is where He imparts the knowledge of His amazing love for you into the core of your soul and the depths of your heart. He did provide for you in the past, He does provide for you today, and He will provide for you tomorrow. When you have experienced His wings of Love sheltering you from harm, no one, no trauma, no suffering, nothing, can rob your confidence in His love. This is how you come to know—without a doubt—the love of God. What amazing love the Father has for you. Remember, “Jesus Loves Me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so.”
Discovering God’s Wings of Love in Your Own Life
If you can’t prove God today, how will you choose God tomorrow? The kids and I have created our own personal timelines, beginning with our birth, noting significant events in our lives. My timeline includes my playhouse-turned-classroom, when I met Jesus, marriage, birth of our children, my daddy’s death, and our homeschool journey. When I look at it, I can see the mountains and valleys in my life as God draws me closer to Him. It doesn’t happen overnight; every hardship has not been victorious., but I can see God’s love covering me throughout the years.
Your Turn: Draw a line across a sheet of paper to create your own personal timeline. It might be helpful to look at old pictures, talk with your spouse, children, siblings, and parents. Keep it out and add to it as God brings your life events to mind. Can you find God’s wings of love covering you in your life journey?