Knowing You Are Loved
Jeanette Berry, July 1993
In July of 1985 my husband had an
airplane crash. All three children lives hundreds of miles
away. Dan called me the next day checking on his dad.
He made this statement, "If Dad had died last night, he would have
died knowing he was loved." What a precious
thought...knowing you are loved.
The Apostle John undoubtedly felt
total confidence that Jesus loved him. Again and again in
his writing in the book of John he refers to himself as "one whom
Jesus loved." John was the writer that gave us "For God
so loved the world..." (John 3:16) and his book
tells the wonderful news. Yet, when John spoke of his own
relationship with God's son, he did not use a general term
implying that we are all loved by God, but very specifically
states, "That disciple who Jesus loved said unto Peter..."
What was it about their
relationship that prompted him to feel that way? We note
they spent much time together. The master and the learner.
John was always close to Jesus. When they ate, John was
leaning upon His breast. John dared to ask Him questions
that others feared to ask (John 13:23) and Jesus answered him.
Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to John at the crucifixion,
and John apparently did so willingly and lovingly.
I must admit I long to enjoy that
same confident attitude with Jesus that John had. Feeling
totally loved by some makes you feel completely comfortable in
their presence. You desire to be with them---no matter where
they are going or what they are doing. You are not afraid to
ask questions because you know communion is shared.
Husbands are commanded to love
their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians). A wife
easily learns to trust, lean on, and reverence man who truly
loves her She knows she is loved because they walk together
and commune with one another. There's a depth to their
fellowship that goes beyond merely carrying on a conversation.
Such a wife can take the attitude of John and say, "I'm the one my
husband loves" and she is a happy fulfilled woman. My
husband gives me that confidence.
Going even further, do I
communicate my love as Christ did. Jesus asked Peter three
times, "Do you love me?" Peter became a little perturbed and
said, "Lord, You know all things, You know that I love Thee."
Does He need to ask me that question like He did with Peter, or is
my relationship with Him such that He does know how much I love
Him without asking. Does my husband or my children need to
ask?
As I constantly reset my goals in
life and reassess my priorities, I keep in mind these two things;
being "the one that Jesus loved" and passing that confidence to
those I love.
Copyright © 2008 Truth Helpers Inc.
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