I was recently reminiscing with my now very adult and independent children about the ‘silly games’ we used to play when they were toddlers. This time of recalling caused us all to have a good laugh together. One of the silly games we played was called ‘I Love You.’
It was a simple game without many rules, nor did it require any special skill or talent! All that was needed was a pair of open arms and a loving voice.
The game would start with me saying to one of my kids in a slow stilted voice, “I… LOVE… YOU!” to which they would quickly respond, “No, no, no Daddy - I LOVE YOU!” Then I would retort, “No, no, no” (shaking my head vigorously) “I” (pointing at myself) “LOVE YOU” (pointing at them).
The game would go on for some time with each word becoming more pronounced and larger hand or arm gestures with each turn!
Usually, the game would end with me scooping up one of the kids, giving them a big hug and saying, “I love you mate” or “I love you darling!” This declaration would be met with a little giggle of delight, arms around my neck hugging me tightly. There’s something special about the moment when you realise how much you are loved.
I was also recently reminded of the following passage from the New Testament Book of Matthew where God declared, “This is my beloved Son (I love you!) with whom I am well pleased.”
The passage states: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. A voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17)
As I pondered this passage about Jesus being baptised, I recalled that Jesus often referred to Himself as the ‘Sent One,’ chosen by God the Father to come into the world to do God’s will. In another New Testament Book, John 5:19 states that Jesus, as God’s servant, only spoke what the Father told Him to say, and Jesus was able to do this because He knew God loved Him!
It is the knowledge of the Father’s love that sustained Jesus in times of difficulty, challenge and stress. Even in moments of sheer joy, Jesus knew it was the Father’s love that served as the ‘wind beneath His wings!’
However painful the path of following the Father proved, however hard the task, Jesus never doubted for a single moment that God His Father loved Him.
“The most important thing,” said the renowned Welsh preacher, Christmas Evans, “is not that we love God, but that God loves us!” Christmas Evans did not mean that our love for God is unimportant, but rather that the knowledge of God’s love for us inspires our love for Him!
The Gospel accounts found in the Christian Bible reveal that there were many people in Jesus’ day who did not approve of Him. Some went so far as to suggest that He was controlled by an evil spirit; others saw Him as a glutton who was always eating with others; and there was even a moment when His own siblings doubted Him. But what sustained Jesus in all situations was the unfailing assurance that His Father approved of Him and more so that He loved Him. And that is ultimately what matters.
This unfailing love is also there for you and me. My prayer for this very special community is that we will see and understand the depth, breadth and width of God’s unfailing love for each of us. This love cannot be bought or earned; it is God’s gift for us to receive and claim. May this unfailing love bring us an unshakeable inner security and the strength and ability to live for Him in a way that glorifies Him.