It's 'Just Because I Love you' Day.

I have been given the incredible honor of teaching the children in God's church every Sunday. When I say children, I mean the 3-6 year olds. So, in essence, I am the woman who wears some form of pants EVERY Sunday, I typically have about three children begging for my attention, and I am usually wearing some form of dirt, paint, or Lord knows what else, as if it were the latest and greatest accessory. Don't let me mislead you, I LOVE where God has placed my husband and myself in His church.

A few weeks ago, I was having a particularly difficult time getting the attention of the class. I had a few children running around, two clinging to my legs, others having their own conversation at the table, and one sweet little girl dragging every possible toy out off of the shelf. I was overwhelmed. I don't usually struggle with keeping the attention of this group, we are usually so far involved in an activity that there is little to no distraction. (Don't ask, this is something that God has done in this particular class. I had NOTHING to do with it.) But, alas, there is the occasional Sunday where our class has a hard time focusing. Just when I am about to resort to a whisper chain, which is what we do to let them get the attention of each other, I feel a tap on the back of my leg.

 As I turn around, I notice that the little girl who has pulled everything off the shelf has found what she was searching for. She hands to me a heart shaped cookie cutter. With it comes this simple message "It's 'just because I love you' day." Those sweet, sweet words, spoken by a three year old put so much into perspective for me.

And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. Ephesians 5: 2

How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.Psalm 36: 7

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5: 5

On the day He created the Earth, knowing that we would mess it up, and turn on Him, He was saying "It's 'just because I love you' day."

On the day He sent Jesus, to become a man, to walk and live amongst sinners, He was saying, "It's 'just because I love you' day."

On the day He climbed Calvary, and allowed Himself to die and suffer the penalty for our sins, He was saying, "IT'S 'JUST BECAUSE I LOVE YOU' DAY!!!!"

Today, He wants you to know that "It's 'just because I love YOU' day."

He offers us redemption, hope, and light. Just because he loves us. Yesterday, today, tomorrow. Every Day.

 

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. 1 John 4: 8