I was just thinking about ...
Kim (my wife) and I were heading into the neighboring town a few days ago and when I spotted a bumper sticker. Jesus loves you … but everyone else thinks you’re an xxxxxxx! The bleeped out word refers to the southern end of a northbound donkey; you figure it out. I stared at it for a while…then looked at Kim and smiled…and she got this worried look on her face. “Whaaaat?” It was one of those tones you hear from a mother when her son, all grimy and wet walks in the room, holding something behind his back that’s dripping something that not quite water and proudly exclaims, “Guess what I found, Mom?” “I’ve got an idea for the next devotional,” I said. “Oh, no, you’ve got to be kidding,” came the reply.
No, I wasn’t kidding. There’s something very special in that message. And if you think about it just right, you may be able to hear the words of Joseph, as he’s reunited with his brothers. What you did for bad, God used for good. Obviously, the person with the bumper sticker on the car wanted to tell the whole world off. Or maybe he/she didn’t like “churchy-type” people. But what ended up happening was that his/her derogatory message to the world reminded me of how great is Jesus’ love for me. I don’t know, maybe you have to be looking for it in the first place to see it in such a place at that. Ah, now there’s the thought! Maybe you always heard that Jesus loved you, told yourself that Jesus loved you, but never really felt Jesus’ love.
I have a question for you, have you been looking for it? Do you constantly look for it? Do you want to feel the love of Christ Jesus every waking moment? Probably so, but do you look for it? It’s one thing to know there’s a great treasure lying around you. But it’s another thing to actively search for it. Dig around, look under things, and pick things up searching for it. And when you discover it, the joy of holding it in your grasp is so much greater that to admire it in your mind. What’s more, it becomes more beautiful when gazed upon. In this case, not only was I reminded that Jesus loves me, but that he loves me the way I am. I may be a jerk, screwball, fool or even a xxxxxxx, but Jesus loves me anyway. And just think about it, he even loves that person that put that bumper sticker up on their car. Wow! What a great love! I know, this devotional is a bit shorter than normal. But you know what, I would rather be out there looking for symbols of Jesus’ love for me than in here writing about it. How about you?
Drop
on by anytime, I'll be here and so will God,
Dennis