Do you like me?

This week as we were running around Toronto finishing up the last errands in preparation for our move back to the UK, we were listening to the radio.    The speaker was talking about how, when we were kids, we used to have an infallible system to find out if someone liked us!!  It seems as though this system may have transcended cultures, as I definitely remember it!

 He was talking about the passing on of notes!!
Do you like me?
Yes ✓
No

And you really hoped it came back like that!

 Did you ever send or receive one? I don't remember if I ever got one, but I certainly remember being the delivery person for one of my friends!!

 Wouldn't it be great if we could sometimes pass a note to God and ask him. "Do you love me?" I used to wonder that sometimes.  Did he really love ME.  Did he want to be around me?   Sometimes, I just didn't FEEL like He did.

 Since that time thankfully, I've realized that God knew what we were like, and so he gave us something more sure and certain than even than being here in the flesh with us.  So we didn't have to wonder about these things; it is his unchanging Word.

 When John the Baptist was in prison, he had what I would call a major wobble in his faith.  He sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was 'the one'.  In Mark 7 we read (from verse 22):

 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 

 This is a really massive question!  John had spent his whole life preaching about, and pointing people to, Jesus.  He recognized Him at his baptism as 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world', but suddenly, in the middle of his imprisonment, he was having doubts.  Did he waste his life on the wrong person?

 The scripture goes on to say:

 And in that same hour he (Jesus) cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

 He referred John back to to the scriptures he would have been so familiar with (Isaiah 29:17-19, 35:3-6, and 61:1-2), not to feelings, but on demonstration of His Word. Today God is no different.  Always we go back to the word to see what is true.

 Jesus death demonstrated his overwhelming desire and passion for us.  To facilitate relationship he was willing to endure the horror of the cross.  It wasn't just because he was love, it was because that love, wanted us to have freedom to be in His presence without fear, condemnation and guilt.  He wants us to enjoy all the benefits of the new covenant He made.

 There are so many things in the Word that show us his heart towards us.   One example is in Ephesians. Paul writes:

 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.  Eph 1: 5-8 (NLT)

 God's great pleasure was relationship with YOU!  His love for us is so much more than we imagine.  It's patient, it's kind.  He doesn't keep record of our sins.

 He really, really does like us, love us, delight in us and want to spend time with us.  And he told us in His word to make sure we knew!

 I was thinking about it as we drove, along and I had this revelation:  If we could write Jesus that note..

 Do you love me?
YES
NO

 I believe he absolutely wouldn't  put a ✔ for 'yes'.  Yes you did read that correctly.
He really wouldn't.  "What!!" I hear you cry! Why wouldn't he put a tick to say He loves me?

 He wouldn't mark it with a tick at all. If you ask Him does he love you YES or NO.   He would clearly mark YES, but he would most certainly use a CROSS! 

 Have a great week.

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