A LOVE LETTER FROM JESUS
I love you very much. You are so precious and valuable to Me. I think about you all the time and have wonderful plans for you. The thoughts and plans that I have for you are to give you a future and a hope that is beyond what you could ask for or even think (John 3:16,17; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 139:1-18; 103:1-18; Ephesians 3:20; Isaiah 55:8,9).
You are my child. You belong to Me for I not only created you, I also redeemed you when I died on the cross for all the sins of the world (John 1:1-4,14; 3:16,17; Col. 1:12-16; Gal. 3:10-13; 4:4,5; 1 John 2:2).
GOD IS NOT COUNTING YOUR SIN AGAINST YOU
Through My perfect life and death, you have been reconciled to God. No matter who you are or what you have done, God is not counting your sin against you. You are free to come to Him just as you are and be reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Romans 12:1).
I will tell you the same thing I told a woman who had committed adultery. “I don’t condemn you! Go and sin no more.” You are free to experience My unconditional love for you and leave your life of sin and pain (John 8:11; Romans 2:4; 5:18; 6:14-16; 8:1).
When you call to Me, I will answer. When you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me, for I am anxious to be found by you. When you give Me permission, I will make My home with you (Jeremiah 29:12, 13; Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:23; Revelation 3:20).
I love you with an everlasting love! Nothing can change that. When you hurt, I hurt with you, just as a parent suffers when their child is in pain (Jer. 31:3; Romans 8:31-39; Matt. 23:37-39; 25:34-45; Hosea 11:1-8).
All human pain and suffering is ultimately a result of Adam and Eve’s choice to learn about evil. When they sinned, I immediately stepped in to be the Savior of the world (Genesis 2:15-17; 3; Revelation 13:8; Romans 5:12- 18; Isaiah 53:4-6; John 1:29; 4:42; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 John 2:2).
HEALING THE BROKENHEARTED AND SETTING PEOPLE FREE
Through My perfect life and death, I was able to free the human race from the kingdom of darkness and qualify everyone for eternal life. As a result, everyone is now free to choose to live with Me now and forever or persistently cling onto sin and evil (Colossians 1:12-14; Romans 5:18; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; 1 John 5:10,11; John 1:9-13; 3:16-20).
When I was on this earth, My mission was to share good news with the poor, heal the brokenhearted and free people enslaved by sin. Satan has told many lies about Me in order to lead people to reject Me. He seeks to steal, kill, and destroy as many as he can. I came so everyone might experience the abundant life that was originally intended for the human race (Luke 4:18; Rev. 12:7-9; 1 Peter 5:8; John 8:31-36, 44; 10:10).
I invite you to come to Me just as you are. I will accept you with all of your hurt and failure. In fact, the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are “poor in spirit,” those who recognize their brokenness and need for Me as their Savior (Matthew 11:28-30; 5:3; Rom. 12:1; Ps. 51:17).
When you invite me to be your Savior and Lord, you will be “born again.” The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth and the truth will set you free. As you replace the lies of Satan with the truth from the Bible, your life will be transformed. You will experience freedom from fear, guilt, and shame (John 1:12,13; 3:5,6; 8:31-36; 16:13; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 1:9; 3:1; 4:18).
You will discover new meaning and purpose in life as you share your story with others and invite them to experience My love and be reconciled to God (Mark 4:20; 5:19,20; Revelation 12:11; 2 Cor. 5:19,20).
YOU’RE INVITED, PLEASE COME
I will never force you to receive the truth or the blessings I am anxious to give you. If you don’t want them, I will allow you to pursue the pathway you choose, even though it will bring you much pain and heartache. Even then I will be waiting for you to call out for help. When you do, I will reassure you of My forgiveness and help you experience healing from the brokenness caused by your sinful choices (Prov. 14:12; Matthew 7:13,14; James 1:14,15; Romans 1:18-28; Psalm 107; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19,20; Luke 4:18; Matthew 5:3-12; 1 John 1:9).
If you persistently choose to cling onto sin, you will eventually hate Me and not want to come into My presence. In fact, you will come to the point that you would rather die than live with Me forever. Out of love, I will honor your choice and you will perish in the end (John 3:16-20; Revelation 6:14-16; 20:7-15; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Romans 6:23).
EXPERIENCE THE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE YOUR HEART LONGS FOR
But if you want Me to be your Savior, you will not be disappointed. You will experience love that casts out fear, peace that passes understanding, and joy that no one can take away (1 John 4:17-19; Philippians 4:6,7; John 16:22).
When you are tempted to satisfy your cravings in unhealthy ways, I will enable you to have self-control and remind you that the blessings I give you will truly satisfy (1 John 2:15,16; Galatians 5:23; John 4:14; Philippians 4:4-19).
I will enable you to be patient with others as they are growing and will transform you so that kindness, compassion, and forgiveness flow from within (Galatians 5:22; John 7:37-39; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:32).
TRUST ME TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR ENEMIES
When you are mistreated, misunderstood, or taken advantage of, your natural desire will be to seek revenge. Choose instead to allow Me to discipline those who have hurt you. While doing so, I will also seek to reach their hearts (Rom. 12:17-21; Hebrews 12:5-11; Rev. 3:19; Luke 4:18).
In the long run, the best way to relate to your enemies is to love them. They will either humble their hearts and become your friend or try to avoid you out of their own shame. When I was mistreated and nailed to the cross, I prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” After I was resurrected, many confessed their sins, repented, and became My disciples (Matt. 5:3-12; Luke 6:27-38; 23:34; Acts 2:36-42).
Instead of seeking revenge, choose to be gentle with people. Look beyond their faults, understand their needs, and care for them in healthy ways, while maintaining proper boundaries (Romans 12).
Don’t be afraid to speak the truth, but do it always in love. I know all this will take a miracle, for you are helpless to do anything good apart from Me. Your part is to choose to love; the Holy Spirit will work the miracle within you (Ephesians 4:14-16; John 15:4,5,12; Galatians 5:13-25; Phil. 2:12,13).
As you experience My unconditional love, you will grow into maturity and learn to love others as I have loved you. People will be drawn to Me by the light that shines out of your life (John 12:32; 13:34,35; 15:12; Matthew 5:16).
I WILL SOON BRING AN END TO ALL SIN AND DEATH
Soon the day will come when I will return to earth and take to heaven all who want to live with Me forever. All those “who have fallen asleep” trusting in Me will be resurrected with brand new bodies (John 14:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:8: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54).
I long for the day when we will be together again in person. After all sin is destroyed and the earth is cleansed by fire, I will create a new heaven and a new earth. All tears will be wiped away and there will be no more pain, crying, sorrow, or death (John 14:1-3; 2 Peter 3:10-13; 1 Corinthians 1526; Revelation 20:14; 21:1,4).
Until then, trust Me! I will take care of you, for I love you with all My heart (Matthew 6:33; Phil. 4:19; Romans 5:6-10; 8:31,321 Peter 5:7).
With Love Always,
Your Creator, Savior and Friend,
Jesus
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The preceding Love Letter From Jesus is part of The Compelling Love of God studies. It is my prayer that God will be able to use the Love Letter and The Compelling Love of God studies to help many others understand and experience His unconditional love for the human race.
I grew up in a Christian home with two loving parents and three older brothers. Attending church each week was a part of life. We enjoyed the fellowship and friendships that developed. My parents willingly sacrificed for all of us to be able to attend Christian schools. The home, school and church experience provided a positive and Biblical foundation for me to build my life upon.
At age fifteen, my Christian life became more personal through positive influences of teachers and classmates. I began to fall in love with Jesus as I read the story of Jesus in the Bible along with a wonderful commentary called, “The Desire of Ages.” The next year, a thought came into my mind. “I would like to be a minister and help others come to know Jesus as a personal Friend and Savior.” Then another thought came. “If I am going to be a minister, I better take this seriously.”
As I began to focus on how I was doing, I could always find fault with myself. Without a good understanding of the gospel, I began to live with a constant, nagging guilt. Eventually, that guilt led to much insecurity and a feeling of shame. That emotional pain led to seeking “pain relievers.” For me, that took the form of binging on food. It provided temporary pleasure, but it also led to more guilt. I found myself stuck in a cycle of addiction: guilt, shame, pain, pain reliever, guilt…. Since it was an “acceptable” addiction, and something I could hide, no one noticed but me.
The shame and insecurity kept me from seeking out the help that I needed. I almost gave up Christianity, for it wasn’t working for me. But I had seen others who had given up and noticed that they weren’t happy. I knew that Jesus was “the answer,” I just hadn’t figured out how to experience peace and victory for myself.
For 14 years I limped along in my struggling, Christian life. Looking back at those years, I recognize that God was removing any confidence in myself that might lead to pride or that might lead me away from trusting in His grace and righteousness alone. God was also faithful to provide the help and encouragement that I needed to nurture me along. This came through family and friends, personal quiet time with Him, answers to prayer and His remarkable leading in my life.
Then in His wonderful providence and timing, He led me to understand the gospel foundation more clearly than ever before. I began to experience an inner peace and security that has led to a growing maturity in my relationship with God and others. I experienced freedom from the addictive cycle, victory in the Christian life and a new motivation for living and loving God.
In John 8:31,32, Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Having experienced freedom and joy through Jesus, it is my desire to share this good news with others.
Consequently, I developed a series of Bible Studies that I call “The Compelling Love of God” designed to help one grow into maturity by finding security in Christ. These can be found at www.compellinglove.org
May God bless each of us with the Holy Spirit that He may lead us step by step into all the truth He has for us. “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
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Clinton Meharry is the current pastor of the Moses Lake, WA Adventist church