Jesus Loves Me

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

This devotion has been published before, but it seems as if we can’t hear the message enough.  From the time we first attend Sunday School as children, we are taught that Jesus loves us by learning the sweet hymn “Jesus Loves Me.” According to Wikipedia, the lyrics by Anna Bartlett Warner first appeared as a poem in 1860, and the tune was added in 1862.  We’re very familiar with the first verse and the chorus, but there are several additional verses that I don’t remember learning as a child. Every once in a while, the song is played while the children come forward for the worship connection during worship, and it seems to put a smile on everyone’s face. 

If you need a smile today, take a minute and sing it to yourself:

    Jesus loves me! This I know,

    For the Bible tells me so.

    Little ones to Him belong;

    They are weak, but He is strong.

        Chorus:

        Yes, Jesus loves me!

        Yes, Jesus loves me!

        Yes, Jesus loves me!

        The Bible tells me so.

    Jesus loves me! This I know,

    As He loved so long ago,

    Taking children on His knee,

    Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

        Chorus

    Jesus loves me when I'm good,

    When I do the things I should,

    Jesus loves me when I'm bad,

    Though it makes Him very sad.

        Chorus

    Jesus loves me still today,

    Walking with me on my way,

    Wanting as a friend to give

    Light and love to all who live.

        Chorus

    Jesus loves me! He who died

    Heaven’s gate to open wide;

    He will wash away my sin,

    Let His little child come in.

        Chorus

    Jesus loves me! He will stay

    Close beside me all the way;

    Thou hast bled and died for me,

    I will henceforth live for Thee.

        Chorus

And here’s a senior version of the hymn, author unknown, for those of us with a few more years behind us:

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

Chorus

Though my steps are oh, so slow,

With my hand in His I'll go

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

Chorus

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song,

Telling me in words so clear,

"Have no fear, for I am near."

Chorus

          When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love.

Chorus

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day.

Chorus 

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to show us your love. Help us to remember each day that, whether we are learning this song as children or fondly reminded of it as seniors with silver hair, Jesus loves us. And we pray that we will remember every day to let Jesus know that we love him.

Robin Hadfield