Our shoes squeaked on the linoleum floor as we entered the little classroom each Sunday morning. One of our teachers played an old, out-of-tune piano and we sang, “Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me!” I felt wrapped in God’s arms of love as I sang. Then we heard wonderful Bible stories, illustrated by the colorful flannelgraph pictures our teacher moved around the felt board. We learned about Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and about God’s great love for us, His little sheep.
One Sunday, the teacher said, “Jesus had to die because we have each sinned. Sin includes all the bad things you have ever done, including lying, disobeying your parents, or stealing a pack of gum. God is holy, so we can’t come into His presence with sin on us.” A tear ran down my face, and my lips quivered.
“But God loves us so much, that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins by suffering and dying on the cross. When we admit our sin to God, ask Him to forgive us, and invite Jesus into our lives, He comes in, cleans us up, and makes us part of God’s family.”
At the end of the lesson, she laid a big, red, cardboard heart on the floor. She said, “If you want to tell God that you are sorry for your sins, and invite Jesus into your heart and life, come up and stand on this heart, and we will pray together.”
My heart ached that Jesus had to die because I had sinned. At six years old, I understood that it was my sin that put Jesus on the cross. My breath quickened and my stomach dropped. I knew Jesus loved me and I loved Him, but I was shy, and afraid to stand in front of the others. “Help me, Jesus!” I whispered.
Suddenly, I was on my feet. I walked forward, with my eyes looking down at the floor. When I reached the red heart, I stood in the middle of it. With my head down, and my hands folded, my Sunday school teacher led me in a prayer to receive Jesus Christ. I was saved!
After I prayed, I lifted my head high. The others could see the huge smile on my face. I felt like I floated back to my seat.
I was blessed to be born to parents who taught me about Jesus at home. They also took me to church and put me in a Christian school, where I was encouraged to read and memorize Scripture. I grew up in the Lord and His Word, which became the firm foundation for my life.
When the inevitable hard times came and traumatic events occurred over the years, I held on to the truth that Jesus loves me. When fear or doubt would whisper, “If God really loved you, He wouldn’t allow this,” I remembered the cross and was assured of God’s love.
Some years ago, I was sitting at the piano talking with one of my nephews and a friend. The friend asked me, “What is your favorite song to play on the piano?” Before my thoughts fully formed, my fingers struck the ivory keys and I sang, “Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me!”
Jesus loves you too!
Related Scriptures:
- 1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
- Romans 10:9 “that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Application Questions:
- Have you invited Jesus into your life, and fully received God’s gift of love, salvation, and righteousness?
- In what ways have you struggled to believe in and rely on God’s personal love for you?
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas of fear that prevent you from enjoying His perfect love.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you that You love me so much, that you lived and died for me. I confess my sin and believe that you paid the penalty for my sin on the cross. I invite you in to my heart, mind, and life. Save me and help me to live Your way. Thank you, Jesus. (John 3:16)
