God’s love story began the story of Jesus’ love long before any single miracle, parable, sermon, or personal testimony.
He intentionally designed the plan of salvation—not as an afterthought or a knee-jerk reaction to an unexpected situation. God’s love remained so complete that He had already put His plan to redeem us in place, even before temptation led to the fall. Jesus’ compassion, teaching, Word, and work in our lives all point back to the same truth: He loves us deeply and came to save us fully. Let me share why I love to tell, read, and hear the story of Jesus’ love.
I love to read the stories of Jesus’ love when He is moved with compassion by human suffering. One day while Jesus was teaching, a group men tore a hole in the roof where Jesus was and lowered a paralyzed man in the middle of the crowd. Can you imagine the drama of that scene and the fierceness of their faith? Jesus said to the man, “Arise, take up your bed and go to your house. Immediately he was healed.
Telling, Hearing, and Writing the Story
I love to tell the stories of Jesus’ love that I learned in my childhood. Jesus spoke in parables to teach people about the character of God. God persistently pursues us like the lost sheep in Luke 15. He celebrates when we are found like the lost coin. He is the Father eager to redeem us, even when we have wronged Him, like the father whose son went into a far country.
I love to hear the Word of God being taught and preached. His word is new, deeper, and sweeter every time. How is it that we can experience His love in a deeper, personal way each time we delve into the Bible. He speaks to our needs and desires in a way that cannot be matched by any human experience. God’s love for us is a well without a bottom.
I love to write the story of Jesus’ love, sharing personal accounts that testify of His kindness and mercy. Sometimes He demonstrates His love through blessings that are answered prayers. At other times, He surrounds me in peace that passes understanding. (Philippians 4:7). Have you felt his love through protection, provision, and even when He says no to something you have asked for? My journals are filled with such desires only to be proven later that God’s wisdom is best. For example:
“March 19 – Thank you, Lord, for being with me and bringing me through [surgery]. Thank you for medical care. Thank you for the scriptures You sent to keep me feeling Your presence. How great you are!”
Jesus’ Mission of Love
When Jesus’ earthly mission was complete, love kept Him on the cross between two criminals. One recognized that not only did He not deserve to die, but also He had the power to save. Hanging on the cross, the man had nothing to offer but a penitent heart, and Jesus accepted his offering. From the foundation of the world, Jesus’ mission was to seek and save the lost, to give us hope and an eternal future, and to lavish His love on us so we can do the same to others. This is a story worth telling.