O my Strength, I will sing praises to You, for You, O God, are my Fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love. Psalm 59:17

Jesus Christ is the Savior who offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe. Through Jesus' sacrifice, the Lord has shown to us just how much He cares.

Not so long ago a pastor sent me a cute example of measuring love. The story begins with a father who was playing with his five-year-old son. The dad, who was packing more than a few extra pounds around his middle, asked the boy, "How much do you love me?"

The boy replied, "Daddy, I love you a million dollars?"

With a twinkle in his eye that signaled he was playing a game, the father sadly commented, "Son, with inflation, a million dollars isn't all that much. Is a million dollars all you love me?"

The boy gave the matter some thought. Then he said, "I love you a billion gazillion dollars." Now you and I both know a billion gazillion dollars is a great many dollars. Then, just to make sure his dad got the point, the boy added, "I love you all the dollars there are."

With a grin dad shot back, "How about lira? How many liras do you love me?" That confused the boy, so dad explained Italian money wasn't dollars, but lira.

When the light bulb of understanding went on over the boy's head, he confidently responded: "I love you all the lira too."

Father and Son went through Swiss francs, the German mark, and the Dutch guilder.

Finally, they got to England. Dad asked, "And how many pounds do you love me? Do you love me all the pounds?"

With a response far faster than his years should have given him, the boy patted dad's tummy and said, "Dad, I think you've already got all the pounds."

How much does God love you?

He loves you more than all the gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, francs, marks, guilders, dollars or pounds in the world. How much does He love you? Look to the Bethlehem manger and realize Jesus left heaven's high-throne room so He might, according to prophecy, be born in David's town.

Observe Him at the time of temptation and hear Jesus quote Scripture as He declines Satan's sly suggestions that He could avoid a lot of pain and suffering, if He would just listen to the devil and turn stones to bread, or cast Himself down from the temple, or switch allegiance and worship the tempter.

Stand with the crowd at Jesus' trials and listen to Him endure the lies that were told about Him and suffer the injustices that were all around Him. Watch with the few followers of Jesus who stood near His cross. See how, even through His pain, He forgave those who had had Him crucified. Look at the Savior as He willingly lays down His life in exchange for our forgiveness and salvation.

Go with the women to His tomb on the Sunday of resurrection and see that the Savior's sacrifice has been accepted. Rejoice with them as they encounter the risen Redeemer, who now provides hope and heaven for all who are brought to faith in Him as their heaven-sent Rescuer.

How much does God love you? Take a look and see.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that, in Your Son, I have been given forgiveness, hope and salvation. May I see Your grace and share it with others who do not know the wonders of Your love. In Jesus' Name I pray it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Lamentations 3-5    Hebrews 13

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