A song was recommended for my mom to listen to in the hospital. I was familiar with it, but it wasn’t one I knew very well.
“He Will Hold Me Fast” by the Getty’s.
I was moved by the lyrics and the melody as we listened, I downloaded it on my Apple Music, and I’ve been listening to it repeatedly since.
“For my Savior loves me so…”
Brian, my husband, would often say that John 3:16, the famous love verse, was misquoted. The word “so” should be actually translated “in this manner.”
That sort of changes things, doesn’t it?
As a sinner, unworthy, I hear this oft-repeated phrase about how much God loves me and I find it hard to fathom.
Ed and I were chatting about it on the way to swim at the YMCA the other night.
“Do you feel God’s love for you?”
“Not really. It’s more of a concept that I am willing to accept.”
Does God really love me?
When I feel unloved by people, I wonder why I can feel loved by God.
My chronological Bible reading has suffered this season, and I find it easier to “just” read my devotional, “Days of Praise.”
But I realized something: it is through my Bible reading that I see God’s love, overarching, for mankind. I see His ever-present actions to draw us to Himself. Is this love?
We know that He commands us to love Him: “Love the Lord thy God with all your heart.”
Why would He command this if He did not reciprocate?
We must be in the Word, reading the Word, abiding in the Word to know and understand His love for us. The whole Word is a letter of love, and if we do not read it we cannot “feel” that love.
John 3:16 is a great verse, but better is John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Jesus’ sacrifice is that stamp of love.
Yes, He loves me, unworthy “worm” that I am. I can stand confidently in that truth. I am included. I am nothing special, but I am loved. He doesn’t see the human exterior, He sees the spirit and soul that is me, loving Him, grateful to Him, obeying Him, seeking Him.
He sees the person that is depending on Him to provide all her needs, according to His riches.
He sees me.
And how can I show my love for Him? Obeying His commands.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
MARANATHA!