If you’re a Christian, then you know just how ugly sin is. Even what we humans see as a minor sin hinders our walk with God. That isn’t His plan. It was in the Garden of Eden when Adam chose to sin, in spite of God’s warning, that our union with God was broken. On the cross at Calvary, that union was restored. We were redeemed by Jesus Christ. It only takes faith. Jesus was God incarnate.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2).
Jesus created all things, and we only need to look at a flower and smell the lovely fragrance to know that He created all things with love. When Adam sinned, all of creation fell, but God still loved him. There have been many times throughout history that mankind has tested God’s love, but even when the fallen angels tried to corrupt all of the human genome, God still saved a few people from destruction.
God knew that Noah and his family had kept themselves from the sin that was all around them. They weren’t perfect. I’m sure Noah probably used some pretty colorful language if he hit his thumb with the hammer while building the ark. He probably got discouraged while listening to disparaging remarks and being mocked while building a huge ark to float on lots of water. It hadn’t rained, and this ark was too large to float on a river. Noah was true to God and kept on doing God’s work in spite of any discouragement. God loved him and his family. Because Noah obeyed God, he and his family, along with some untainted animals, were saved through God’s judgment.
We can always count on God’s love. Can He count on our love for Him?
Sometimes, we forget that we are God’s children. Jesus loved children. One day, people brought their infants to Jesus for Him to touch, but the disciples were sending them away. “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:16).
On Sunday mornings when we are at a worship service, hymns are usually sung. Most of the hymns are songs of worship and praise of God. We sometimes forget to be His children and to approach Him as a child. Most Sunday school children know this song, but we seldom sing it as adults. Maybe we should sing it more often.
JESUS LOVES ME by Anna B. Warner
Jesus loves me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong
The Bible does tell us that Jesus loves us. It’s important to read Scripture from “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) through “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21). You will see evidence of God’s love on every page.
We cannot understand the love that God has for us. Why would the perfect God step into this fallen world knowing that He would be beaten, mocked, spit upon, and crucified? Love. Perfect love. We find it hard to love someone who cuts us off in traffic, so how can we understand God’s love? As children, we are told of God’s love and accept it. As we grow, our faith should move from our head to our heart. If we truly understand that our sin is what held Jesus to the cross, our hearts will be broken. Then His love for us will change how we show our love for Him. Instead of walking with one foot (or maybe both feet) in the world, we will truly repent of our sin and ask His forgiveness.
Jesus loves me! This I know
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”
Have you read about the miracles that Jesus performed? Blind men were given sight, lame men were made to walk again, demons were cast out, and sin was forgiven. What we read in Scripture happened long ago, but His love has not changed. His perfect love is still here for us today. He still loves children, and He loves adults who become His children through faith.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name’ which were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
We have a choice, and by placing our faith in Jesus, we are born again. Be sure that you know Him. Many people around the world have heard of Jesus, but they don’t know Him in a way that brings salvation. Sadly, there are many who think they are bound for eternity in Glory when they haven’t repented and asked for forgiveness. If you were baptized as a baby, that does not bring salvation. You need to be aware that you are a sinner with no way to save yourself. You need to repent of your sin, be truly sorry, turn from it, and ask Jesus to forgive you.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).
A baby cannot confess sin nor believe in his heart. Nobody can make that confession for you.
Jesus loves me! Still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.
Jesus wants to be your friend. As a friend, He wants to give you the best. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
When we think of light in contrast to darkness, we might think of the difference between midnight and noon. The light of Jesus actually outshines the spiritual darkness of sin and the powers of evil. This world is filled with the evil of Satan, and only the light and love of Jesus can scatter the darkness and combat the hatred of Satan and his minions. If we allow it, Jesus will walk every step of our way with us, and His light will turn the darkness away.
Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Jesus died so that we all can have eternal life with Him. It is a choice on our part, and it’s up to us individually to accept or reject Him. If we don’t accept His free gift, then by default, we reject Him. There’s no magic formula or any special qualifications for eternal life. It’s there for everybody.
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
If you’ve been born again, you have seen that you’re a sinner and have repented of sin. Sin is subtle, and too often, we don’t see our sin for what it is. Do you like to gossip? Maybe you like telling off-color jokes around the office water cooler. Maybe your sin is the sin of pride. There’s no need to go into a little room and confess your sin to a priest. That really isn’t Biblical, and only Jesus can forgive your sin. When you repent, that means you’ve seen your sin and have turned from it. No matter how “big” the sin is, nothing is too big that it can’t be forgiven by Jesus. When you ask to be forgiven, He will forgive.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Then you need to stop that sin.
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.
Jesus will always be with you. He shed His pure blood for you. The Jewish Law called for animal sacrifice in order to cover sin. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Animal blood could never take the sin away. Nor could human blood, which is tainted by Adam’s sin. Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit. He had no human father, so his blood wasn’t tainted by Adam’s sin. Jesus willingly went to the cross because He loves you and me.
How do we show Him our love? We live for Him. We pray, we humble ourselves before people, and we stand firm upon His truth. We need to show God’s love to others.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
No matter who you are and no matter the depth of your sin, Jesus loves you. The Bible is God’s pure and Holy word. If you haven’t repented and asked Jesus to forgive you, do it now. If you’re a sheep that has strayed, you haven’t strayed beyond what Jesus will forgive. Come back to Him now. Yes, Jesus loves me and you!
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).