Lesson 22. Jesus Loves You

We are accustomed to hearing words about God’s love, yet we do not even reflect upon the depth of the love that God manifests toward each of us. More than anything, He desires us to see this and live with this understanding.

The realization of God’s love, His forgiveness, His acceptance, His understanding of everything happening to me, and His desire to help me—all this brings peace to the soul and gives hope for something better and more beautiful.

The enemy of souls knows the power of God’s love. He understands how it captivates a person, and therefore desires to divert our gaze from the Eternal and Great God by drawing our attention to everything else—to what is insignificant and small—and making the small thing the main thing. Unfortunately, the enemy succeeds in doing this.

It is written, “God is love.” Love cannot refrain from loving. It is constant like the sun; it is visible in everything surrounding me.

I was created by Love for love. This law is embedded within every cell of my body. Every atom of my body lives for the benefit and happiness of other atoms and cells. My body has been created by Love in such a unique way that it knows by itself what to do, how to remain healthy, how to fight illness, how to free itself from toxins and waste, how to govern my feelings, and how to influence my thoughts. My task is to create ideal conditions for my body. When the laws of happiness and health are observed, the body will function beautifully and give me many hormones of joy. Only love, embedded within my nature at the level of law, is capable of doing this.

When I come into contact with the natural world, I see how beautiful and harmonious it is. How wisely everything has been designed, how beautiful, amazing, and mysterious everything is. And all this was created by Love for me. Nature lives according to the laws of love. It gives in order to receive and, having received, gives again. Love is a continual process of relationships among all created beings for one another’s benefit.

Sin destroyed the harmony of love. It brought illness, suffering, and death. It destroys everything it touches. Sin brings chaos and devastation. It has no meaning, no explanation, and no justification. Where sin exists, there are darkness and misery.

But God loves this world so greatly that He decided to give His Son forever, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish in sin but have Eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. In Christ, God visibly demonstrated His love and revealed His character to humanity. He refuted every prejudiced opinion about Himself by manifesting the perfect Agape Love of which His heart was capable. He gave humanity the law of His love, which is the union of mercy and justice. Jesus receives everyone who comes to Him, because a very high price was paid for every soul. Through this, humanity was placed in an extremely favorable position and now has the right to salvation if it accepts the conditions.

In all His greatness, Jesus loves me personally. He loves me as greatly as He surpasses me. Jesus watches me attentively, and every movement of my thoughts or words toward Him gives Christ an opportunity to do something good and pleasant for me. The very fact that the Savior gives me freedom of choice and does not restrict it speaks of His loving heart, filled with deep respect for me. Otherwise, Jesus would not act this way. God could command me to believe in Him and love Him in return, and I would submit to that word. But He does not act this way. He tenderly offers Himself and waits. He waits a long time. He waits for some throughout their entire lives but never receives them. He waits for those who believe in Him but do not believe in His love and do not know Him. He waits for those who pray to Him but do not receive the answers to their prayers and run away in fear.

Sometimes I compare our world to an aquarium. I have created every condition necessary for the fish to live. I planted vegetation, placed various stones and structures for shelter, installed equipment to purify the water, fill it with oxygen, and maintain the necessary temperature. I purchased special food, established the amount and feeding time, and give the fish food at the proper time. But whenever I approach the aquarium to admire its inhabitants, they swim away from me in fear or pay no attention to me. They are more interested in the food than in me. Yet despite all this, I continue caring for them and thinking about their happiness, nourishment, and well-being. Then I suddenly see that the fish have become sick and have begun pursuing and devouring the weak. I desire to help them, reveal the laws of love to them, and teach them these laws. In order for my love to become understandable to the unhappy and cruel fish, I must become one of them. Would I make such a sacrifice? Hardly. But God did. He not only became One of us, but also died for us so that we could receive salvation from the dominion of sin and live forever. Before His death, He commanded us to love one another as He loves us. He LOVES us!

But my mind is closed and incapable of comprehending this. This is why the Lord seeks those who will understand and receive Him and who will be able, through their love, to show God’s love to those near them. Having received this gift from a friend, a person will see the Savior, Who is Love.

Do I believe in God’s love for me? Do I live with the joy of realizing His love? It is difficult to answer. I am so very busy. But He asks me to stop and know Him—to know that He is God and that He is Love.

Please read Romans 5:6–10; Jeremiah 31:3; Luke 12:32; John 14:23; and 16:27 in the light of this lesson.
What did you understand from this lesson?
Do you understand the depth of God’s love for you?
Could you express your understanding of God’s love in simple words?
Do you pray for our School of Agape Love and its participants?
Do you rejoice that Jesus loves you?
What does God’s love give a person?