CHRIST LOVES YOU

Often as Christians we have a picture of God as the rigid and mean disciplinarian, the unrelenting judge, or the parent who is always punishing, but seldom loving. Let me help you change that picture today. As we quickly glance through Scripture, we read words describing Christ such as Advocate, Anointed One, Author of Life, Counselor, Defender, Faithful and True, Father of Compassion, Lord Who Heals, or Shepherd. Those are loving and nurturing names. Christ loves us. He wants us to return His love just as a parent wants the love of their children. It is Satan who wants us to have negative and foreboding images of God.

Not so long ago, I had a very difficult week. I had spoken many times over the weekend. I came home to see a pile of work on my desk. I didn�t feel like praying; I felt like giving up. I wanted to quit traveling and speaking. I (and Satan) managed to convince me that my speaking wasn�t doing any good anyway. I was sure no one loved me and no one would notice if I quit. I felt locked in a box of performance with little compensation or encouragement. I tried to pray, but all I could do was cry. I did manage however to let God know that I needed some love, attention, and encouragement.

I returned to my house after a brief shopping trip to find someone had left a beautiful little miniature rosebush at my door. The card simply said, �We love you.� Later several people called saying they were just �checking in,� and wanted me to know they loved me. When I finally got to my scripture reading for the day, the verse said, �Will ye also go away?� John 6:67. I felt as though Christ was saying to me personally, �Marilyn, are you going to leave Me, too?� I wept as I realized Christ loved me enough to prompt someone to leave a little rose bush at my door. He loved me enough to have friends call just to say they loved me. Then Christ arranged my devotions so that on the very day I needed to be reminded I mattered to Christ, He would so sweetly ask me, �Are you going to leave Me, too?�

Satan had constricted me and put me in a box of self pity and self-condemnation. But Christ�s love had constrained me, unlocked the box and set me free to bask in His love.

CHRIST CONSTRAINS/SATAN CONSTRICTS

MWH