GOD, DO YOU LOVE ME?
Prior to Valentine’s Day of 2008, a Christian radio station asked its listeners to e-mail a short love story/letter explaining the deep affection that they have for their spouse. This request got me thinking. What does it truly mean to love and be devoted to someone? Are human beings, beyond a shadow of a doubt, able to learn and demonstrate genuine love; that is, a love like the love of God. Jesus said to His disciples, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet” (John 13:13-14). I wrote this short story as a representation of how a person can develop their ability to love as God loves. I hope you enjoy it.
God, do you love me? Nobody else does. It’s Sunday morning and nobody is paying any attention to me. I have my dress clothes on and I ate my breakfast – I got it myself. Yet, nobody seems to care. I’ve had it! I’m going to run away. Look! I’ve found a stick and a piece of square cloth. It’s full of food now and hanging on my shoulder. Here I am. I am all the way down the street. Nobody followed me. Do I turn right or left? OK, I’ll go back home because I am already lonely. I walked up the stairs noticing that everyone was busy. Nobody even knew I was gone. But God, I realized that I talked with You the whole time and You were there. Thanks for loving me.
God, do you love me? You gave me someone precious. A hand to touch and a heart that is tender and compassionate. You gave me a person who helped me grow into a giant. She became sick. Why? What did I do wrong? Please – meet me in the backyard. Cancer shortens life. What will I do without her? Our little ones – I am not a mom. I can’t run away. I have responsibility. Will I be alone? We hugged. We cried. We laughed. We trusted. I am a giant no more. I feel empty. This is the greatest pain I’ve ever felt. But God, I realized that I talked with You the whole time and You were there. Thanks for loving me.
God, do you love me? I find it hard to wake up. But my little ones need me. I am strong no longer. I need Your strength. I am beyond weak. I could be very angry with You but I choose to trust You. I was told that I was now “damaged goods”. But that is not what “YOU” tell me. Who is that Lord? Is it another hand to touch? Is it another tender and compassionate heart? Wow! What grace. Oh my, a child on the way too. But through my life, God, I realized that I talk with You all the time and You are there. Thanks for loving me.
How does a person love as God loves (1 John 2:3-11; 3:11-16)? Is it an unattainable charge? Would God wait for people to follow His expectation if it were, hmmm, impossible (2 Peter 3:8-11)? Let’s look at some imperative concepts about walking with God. First, it is important to trust God through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). In fact, a person who trusts God will step where God wants his/her feet to step; both, physically and spiritually (cf. Proverbs 16:25; Jeremiah 10:23-25). Therefore, to step in the direction God has laid out for you is to trust (cf. Proverbs 3:5-6; John 20:24-31).
Second, be prepared to love God beyond everyone and everything else. All must count the cost (cost – benefit analysis) in their sincere yearning to follow the godly lifestyle of Jesus. This cost may include physically loosing the people closest to you (cf. Luke 14:25-35). In fact, if you really want to identify with “the Way” (Luke 9:1-2) then, and only then, will you find peace in God’s plan as He guides your course according to His will (Philippians 4:4-9). Do you really want to converse with God? If you do then open your Bible, read it, follow God through Jesus Christ, learn through obedience, and continue in the lifestyle of Christ.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
God, do you love me? Nobody else does. It’s Sunday morning and nobody is paying any attention to me. I have my dress clothes on and I ate my breakfast – I got it myself. Yet, nobody seems to care. I’ve had it! I’m going to run away. Look! I’ve found a stick and a piece of square cloth. It’s full of food now and hanging on my shoulder. Here I am. I am all the way down the street. Nobody followed me. Do I turn right or left? OK, I’ll go back home because I am already lonely. I walked up the stairs noticing that everyone was busy. Nobody even knew I was gone. But God, I realized that I talked with You the whole time and You were there. Thanks for loving me.
God, do you love me? You gave me someone precious. A hand to touch and a heart that is tender and compassionate. You gave me a person who helped me grow into a giant. She became sick. Why? What did I do wrong? Please – meet me in the backyard. Cancer shortens life. What will I do without her? Our little ones – I am not a mom. I can’t run away. I have responsibility. Will I be alone? We hugged. We cried. We laughed. We trusted. I am a giant no more. I feel empty. This is the greatest pain I’ve ever felt. But God, I realized that I talked with You the whole time and You were there. Thanks for loving me.
God, do you love me? I find it hard to wake up. But my little ones need me. I am strong no longer. I need Your strength. I am beyond weak. I could be very angry with You but I choose to trust You. I was told that I was now “damaged goods”. But that is not what “YOU” tell me. Who is that Lord? Is it another hand to touch? Is it another tender and compassionate heart? Wow! What grace. Oh my, a child on the way too. But through my life, God, I realized that I talk with You all the time and You are there. Thanks for loving me.
How does a person love as God loves (1 John 2:3-11; 3:11-16)? Is it an unattainable charge? Would God wait for people to follow His expectation if it were, hmmm, impossible (2 Peter 3:8-11)? Let’s look at some imperative concepts about walking with God. First, it is important to trust God through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). In fact, a person who trusts God will step where God wants his/her feet to step; both, physically and spiritually (cf. Proverbs 16:25; Jeremiah 10:23-25). Therefore, to step in the direction God has laid out for you is to trust (cf. Proverbs 3:5-6; John 20:24-31).
Second, be prepared to love God beyond everyone and everything else. All must count the cost (cost – benefit analysis) in their sincere yearning to follow the godly lifestyle of Jesus. This cost may include physically loosing the people closest to you (cf. Luke 14:25-35). In fact, if you really want to identify with “the Way” (Luke 9:1-2) then, and only then, will you find peace in God’s plan as He guides your course according to His will (Philippians 4:4-9). Do you really want to converse with God? If you do then open your Bible, read it, follow God through Jesus Christ, learn through obedience, and continue in the lifestyle of Christ.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves