Jesus Loves You

03

I HAVE met people in my life who are broken.

They are attacked by the world and the devil in such a way that they have received so many bruises. Many of them are with me now and when I heard their testimony, I realized how strong they have been made by Jesus that they're like stars in my eyes. I admire them so much for their courage. They have gone through so many things that I have written in this book and will write, too, and still, they smile in such a way like they never knew those problems. And what's the secret of it? Of course, it's Jesus!

But in my life, it was different. I can relate, though.

Surrounded by bitterness and receiving wounds that hurt as if still so fresh, I was made bitter myself.

I was a person who was haughty. I was proud of myself. Being a good student who received praise and was favored by every teacher who came to handle our class, I began to think I deserved it truly.

Honestly, I never showed this attitude because along with this personality, I've been always quiet. I rarely spoke. Not even my friends knew much about me. They couldn't understand me wholly.

But how wrong it was, yeah?

Paul says right when he says if you think of yourself to be something when you're nothing, you're a fool [If a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself — Galatians 6:3, NIV]. I never had this kind of humility. Rather, such traits of humanity were made fun of among us.

Indeed, there is a great difference between the standard set by the world and the standard set by God.

God's standard is really high. I can boast about it and the Lord Whom I worship is the Most High. He deserves all praises and glory.

In those years as I was a kid, I was promoted to a different section and I cried day and night because I didn't like the new class. I missed my friends just too much!

How foolish, right?

Later when the Holy Spirit became my friend, He told me how He actually wanted to give me a different environment because He knew my older friends wouldn't let me grow.

How caring God is, no? I didn't even know Him at that time and He, being so rich in mercy, chose to love me still.

The students in my previous class were kind of spoiled. I don't say this to degrade them but to be honest in everything as how God saved me from everything that came my way to spoil me in the worst way possible.

Not only that, in my new class, He made a teacher favor me. The surprising fact was that she never admired more than two girls in her class and God made me become the third one, even more favourable than them.

I can't help but chuckle every time I remember how God always tried to give me in my teacher's hands to guide me and help me with everything. He wanted to keep me safe!

So lovely of God to keep me safe even when I held bitterness in my heart for Him.

So like a Father, no? [See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him — 1 John 3:1, NIV.]

How happily and rejoicing-ly John here speaks about God being our Father. He knows the meaning of it. He knows the Lord personally.

I always used to think how cruel my teacher was to change my section and separate me from my friends. I never cursed her but I didn't bless her either until the Lord made me see she was a good woman to me.

I don't doubt God here. He works in our lives and He keeps in record everything. Knowing us by our name[Exo. 33:17], He knows how to keep everything in check and He gives His best. But we lack obedience to walk in His way and end up hurting ourselves. You also know God will never force you to do something.