I KNOW YOU AND I STILL LOVE YOU.

“Remember the song, ‘Jesus loves me this I know….” We learned the song as children about Jesus love. It was more popular than the Gilligan’s Island theme song. Today we still remember both songs—which one do we believe most?” Jeff Johnson May 2008


In Luke 2:49, Jesus responds to HIS parents, "Why were you searching for me?" Do we ever ponder this question? Was there a valid reason for us to seek Jesus? There is a funny incident I witnessed years ago. I was in a field with another guy who was very strong. We were moving cows from one large field to another by just walking towards them and allowing them to roam away from us into the other field. Everything was progressing well when one cow just stopped. We walked up to the cow and pushed him with our hands and he remained staid. The strong guy got upset with the cow for not moving and grabbed this 1200 pound cow by the head and took him to the ground. While wrestling with him on the ground I asked him, “So now that you have him what are you going to do with him?” Answering the question of ‘what are we going to do with HIM now that we have HIM’ is a question we wrestle with for a variety of reasons. In linking back to the cow story—we wrestle with things when we deviate from the original plan because of a variety of reasons.

We seek Jesus and HIS gifts for our lives. We ask, “LORD, send me and I will go,” Give me oh LORD gifts that I may serve,” “thank you for the talents LORD and now allow me to use them for YOUR glory.” During our journey, sin, failures and short comings, life’s issues, wrestling with personal situations, and doubts in self worth to the kingdom allow us to cease or slow down in our service. James writes, ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ Those who doubt should not think they will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ they are double-minded and unstable in all they do.” (James 1). Jesus never leaves us, we alter our paths away from HIM. We have asked, prayed, and believed in a calling, a path, gifts to serve, and when we started on this journey problems seep in and now we develop doubts about our worthiness. James continues, ¹⁷ “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” We have searched for our gifts, found them, executed a life pattern within our gift set, and now we question our belief because of being tested. James 1:3 continues, “…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Jesus does not hate us HE allows testing to make us stronger and more mature. JESUS LOVES US…. In Hebrews we learn, 12: 12” Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Jesus wants us to be strong, to persevere, and to develop our gifts to serve better and more effectively in a variety of conditions.

Gilligan never got off of the island, but Jesus has never put us on an island of circumstances HE does not have a plan of escape designed for us. When we trust HE is in control, learn lessons from the circumstances, and allow growth, JESUS blesses and we serve more effectively. Look at present circumstances as being in school—taught and lead by JESUS.

I believe in you because, YOU ARE WORTH IT,

Jeff