THE ONE JESUS LOVED
“Go away I’m asleep…” “I was hoping for a pyramid…” “Please deactivate my Facebook account…” “I see dumb people…” “Wife, Friend, Lover, Psycho.” Know what these statements have in common? Believe it or not, they’re epitaphs found on tombstones.
I wonder what stories lay behind those granite messages. But even more, I’m awestruck that of all possible phrases to summarize your life, why on earth choose something like “Go Away I’m Asleep?” Which leads to another question. What pithy statement would I want on my tombstone—Loving Husband and Father? Gone But Not Forgotten? Or perhaps a more spiritual missive such as, “He Loved Jesus?”
Those are fine, but of all of the phrases I could choose, I think I’d go with “Loved by God.” What could be greater? Of all thoughts I can imagine, nothing comes close to being loved by God. Compared to anything else, it’s like a wooden nickel next to a mountain of gold.
The apostle John thought so. All through his gospel, he identifies himself as “the disciple Jesus loved.” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20.) Not “the disciple who loved Jesus.” That was Peter’s focus (John 21:15-17). But given the first chance, he denied Jesus. Focusing simply on my ability to love Jesus, rather than his love for me, will fail me, because it’s based on my strength. It centers on human effort, rather than simply letting Jesus love me. “Loved by God” was John’s identity.
In Romans 8:38-39 Paul declares, “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Let me paraphrase. “Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love!” Nothing I do can cause God to love me any more or any less. Remember that the next time you sin, or struggle with weaknesses, or feel the sting of failure, rejection, or loneliness.
“Loved by God” is the destiny of every believer; it’s who we are. What if we lived in our identity—immersed in God’s love? What if we took time each day, to soak in his presence—simply letting God love us. Thriving in an awareness of Christ’s love, empowers us to rise above whatever life throws at us. We are loved by God.
Principle: “Loved by God” is our identity as believers.
Ponder:
What situations in life cause you to doubt God’s love?
How does living in an awareness of God’s love help you in your daily struggles?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Romans 8.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the unconditional love you have for me in Christ. Help me remember that no matter what happens, nothing will ever change your love for me.
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