Jesus Loves Me! (ELW 595)
1 Jesus loves me! this I know,
for the Bible tells me so;
little ones to him belong,
they are weak, but he is strong.
Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me,
yes, Jesus loves me,
yes, Jesus loves me,
the Bible tells me so.
2 Jesus loves me! he who died
heaven’s gates to open wide;
he will wash away my sin,
let his little child come in. [Refrain]
3 Jesus loves me! he will stay
close beside me all the way;
when at last I come to die,
he will take me home on high. [Refrain]
Devotion
Our gospel reading for this week tells the story of Jesus sending out the seventy with instructions to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. That good news about the love of the Lord has the power to guide us and move us to serve others. Today’s familiar and loved song speaks so simply and directly of Jesus loving us beyond measure, but it also speaks as much to our own self-love being healthy so we can speak God’s great love to others. In Monday’s devotion, I spoke of eleven-year-old Lily. She had very low self-esteem from being neglected as a child. I told of how through the assistance of counseling she came to be healed. In reality, she was already loved, but now she had the confidence to love herself, and then in turn be able to love others. When we serve others in Jesus’ love it serves to bring the power of Jesus’ love to heal others.
Prayer
Lord, let us be your witnesses in a world yearning to be loved and accepted. Be our guide in speaking words of hope and the promise that comes in your name. Amen.