Most of us remember the song “Jesus Loves Me” that we used to sing in Sunday School as young children. If you’re not familiar with it, the words go like this:
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
The song was written by Anna B. Warner who lived in the late 1800’s. She authored several books and poems. Many of her poems were set to music as “religious” songs for children, including “Jesus Loves Me.”
The words to this familiar song are true. Jesus DOES love each of us. The problem I see today is that many people react to that truth as just a “children’s song” type of mentality. “Yes, Jesus loves me…that’s great!” And then, they go on about their normal lives. They don’t stop to think about the REAL impact that should have on our lives, and what our reaction should be to His love for us.
An old Indian chief constantly spoke of the Lord Jesus and what He meant to him.
“Why do you talk so much about Jesus?” asked a friend. The old chief did not reply, but slowly, deliberately gathered some sticks and bits of grass. He made a circle of them. In the circle he placed a caterpillar. Still silent, he struck a match and lit the sticks and grass. They watched the caterpillar. As the fire caught around the circle, the trapped caterpillar began to crawl around rapidly, seeking a way to escape.
As the fire advanced, the helpless caterpillar raised its head as high as it could. If the creature could have spoken, it would have said, “My help can only come from above.”
Then the old chief stooped down. He extended his finger to the caterpillar which crawled up his finger to safety. “That,” said the chief glowing, “was what the Lord Jesus did for me! I was lost in sin. My condition was hopeless. I was trapped. Then the Lord Jesus stooped down in love and mercy and He drew me out of the horrible pit of sin and shame. How can I help but love Him and talk of His wondrous love and care?”
Yes! Jesus DOES love us! He loves us so much HE DIED FOR US!! And yet, we so often ignore that fact and give Him last place in our lives. We put our pleasures and selfish desires ahead of Him, and we disregard His teachings and commandments as if they don’t really matter.
Like the indian chief said, “How can we help but LOVE HIM!?” AND…IF WE LOVE HIM, we will obey Him and want to do what is pleasing to Him!!
In John 14:15, Jesus Himself said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” J. C. Ryle once wrote, “The fear of punishment, the desire of reward, the sense of duty, are all useful arguments, in their way, to persuade people to holiness. But they are all weak and powerless, until a person loves Christ.”
Many people CLAIM to Love Jesus, but they sure don’t act like they do nor live like they do.
JESUS LOVES ME isn’t just a children’s song. It is a TRUTH that should IMPACT and CHANGE our lives! That is, IF we REALLY love Him because of His love for us!