He Loves Me
Growing up, I remember watching little girls perform a ritual of love. With one hand they would hold a daisy; with the other, they would pull off one pedal at a time while saying “He loves me… He loves me not.” If by chance while pulling the last pedal their words were, “He loves me” their hearts would soar high into the heavens. However, if while pulling the last pedal they uttered, “He loves me not” then their hearts would be utterly crushed.
What this ritual really demonstrated was their uncertainly about love. Did the other person really love them? Could true romance be in their future?
With humans there can be doubts about love, but with God – there should never be.
Why?
Because, God loves us with all His heart, all His soul, and all His strength. God only knows one way to love – one hundred percent.
People may think that God is distant, even aloof at times; however, the truth is that God is closer than your very breath.
Paul, in his speech to the Athens, explained just how close God is to every person.
Acts 17:24-28 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope [feel] for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ (Emphasis Mine)
It’s so awesome that God wants to be close to every person. One of God’s names is Immanuel which means “God is with us.”
Matthew 1:23 The virgin [Mary] will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel — which means, God with us. (Emphasis Mine)
In the book of Isaiah, God explains how He does not live in a house that man could build, but rather chooses to be near people who are humble, submissive and have reverence for His Word.
Isaiah 66:1-2 This is what the LORD says: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house could you possibly build for Me? And what place could be My home? My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. [This is] the LORD’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and who trembles at [has reverence for] My word. (Emphasis Mine)
God says,
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation [manner of life] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Emphasis Mine)
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway[s], even unto the end of the world [age]. Amen. (Emphasis Mine)
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man [person] love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode [live] with him. (Emphasis Mine)
John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [helper], that he may abide [live] with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth [lives] with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (Emphasis Mine)
It’s important to understand that Jesus was not God pretending to be a man. On earth, Jesus was a man in an intimate relationship with God – The Father.
2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (Emphasis Mine)
God was in Christ through the Spirit. The Father lived in Jesus Christ while He walked the earth as an example that we should follow. The Father was helping Jesus ‘day by day’ to do the things that He was doing.
Now, in the new birth – it’s Christ in us.
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery [secret] among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Emphasis Mine)
One of the greatest secrets in the world is that when we are born again, the Spirit of Christ comes to live in us. Just like the Father was in Christ, so Christ is in us helping us ‘day by day.’
2 Cor 13:5b Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates [insane]? (Emphasis Mine)
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see [understand] what is the fellowship [intimacy] of the mystery [the secret], which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. (Emphasis Mine)
In the first century the disciples were first called Christians in the city of Antioch.
Acts 11:26b And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Why? Because those disciples went around telling everyone that Christ lived in them.
If you break the word ‘Christian’ down you will see what it really means; Christ ian.
Our relationship is with the Father and His Son – Jesus Christ. The way in which this is experienced is through God coming into our spirit man and living in us.
Jesus tried to explain this to the religious leaders of His day through Nicodemus when He said that we must be born of water and of the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom. The first time we were born, we were born of water through our natural birth. The second time – through the Spirit – in being born again (born from above).
Jesus said,
John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [our natural birth] and of the Spirit [being born again], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again [born from above]. (Emphasis Mine)
The devil does not want people to know this truth. Because the Bible says that greater is He (Christ) that is in you than he (the devil) that is in the world.
1 John 4:4 Ye are (born) of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he (Christ) that is in you, than he (the devil) that is in the world. (Emphasis Mine)
How do we enjoy intimacy with God? Through Christ living in us.
1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto [into] the fellowship [intimacy] of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (Emphasis Mine)
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship [intimacy] with us: and truly our fellowship [intimacy] is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (Emphasis Mine)
Intimacy means “Into-Me-See” It’s when we drop all our walls of pretense and just be real.
When two hearts openly share with one another – that’s when you have true intimacy.
That’s the kind of [oneness] love that people really want and that God offers.
God is closer than your very breath. Take your hand and place it in front of your lips and whisper, “He Loves Me…”, “He Loves Me…”, “He Loves Me…”
Keep repeating that until you get that truth into your spirit.
Because beloved it’s true – “He Loves Me” and “He Loves You Too.”
Charlie†
