Jesus Loves Me, This I know

Ok, let me start by saying, I am all for playing the Jesus Loves Me song in church as the kids come up for childrens time (or children's sermon, or young disciples or whatever your church calls it.) It has been done for years and I'm sure will be done for our little one's grandchildren in the future. But... I have to say the lyrics drive me a little nuts sometimes. I mean really. Have you listened to them?

Jesus Loves me this I know: Cool. I'm all for this. How could we not be.

For the Bible tells me so: Ok, now we have a problem. It's not that the Bible doesn't tell us that Jesus loves us, it most certainly does, but honestly, how many of you learned this fact because the Bible told you so? I know I didn't. I learned it from a loving Mother and Father who told me and showed so. I learned it from a number of different Sunday School teachers who told and showed me so. I learned it from my Grandmother who, just by being present in the same room shows and tells you that Jesus Christ loves you so much He gave His ALL for you. Then there were all those other people in all those churches I attended growing up. The Leisters, The Plums, The Runkels, Joe (The Rock Guy), The Emmanuels, The Hershbergers, Lynn Sifrit, Marva, and a hundred I am sorry I can't remember the names of at the moment.

So let's give some credit where credit is do. Yes, the Bible tell us so, in no uncertain terms. We don't deserve it, but we get it. Jesus does love us. But for me, that song has to go:

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Christians showed me so.

It's where we learn it first. It's most often where we are reminded of it. My wife reminds me often that we are the only Gospel some people will ever see. Have you made this song true for anyone today?

Shalom,
Tim