Quiet Time For Your SoulSample

Does God Love Me?

Everything was about to change.

For three years, Jesus had walked beside His disciples. He had taught them God’s truth, lived out God’s love, done amazing miracles to demonstrate God’s power, and told them about God’s salvation plan. As they walked, He taught, pointing out practical lessons along the way.

And now they were walking again and He was teaching again, but this time it was different because Jesus’ time with His disciples was short and everything was about to change.

Jesus knew the last moments were ticking away before His return to His Father. As He anticipated making the ultimate sacrifice of His very life, a sacrifice that would rend the veil between God and humanity forever, He began His last lessons: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

I am filled with wonder that out of all the ways Jesus could have spent His precious last hours on earth, He chose to spend more time talking to His followers about how much He and the Father loved them and how He wanted them to love one another.

Jesus loves you and me. This is the same Jesus who was there when the first sunrise broke through the darkness of the new world. He placed the stars in the sky and called each one by name. He could see into the future as every kingdom of this world would rise and fall. He knew that His disciples would suffer for His name and the words of strength each of them would need to endure those trials.

And what better source of strength than reassurance of His great love?

Jesus chose to spend His precious final moments telling His followers how much He loves all of us . . . meaning you and me.

Do you wonder sometimes whether God loves you?

Close your eyes . . . still your heart . . . and hear Him as He says, “This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends” (John 15:13).

He loved you all the way to the cross . . .

He loves you now, in this very moment . . .

And He will love you all the way home to heaven!

“Jesus loves me, this I know.”