Message 1995
Our Lord Jesus Christ
"To him who loves us
and has freed us from our sins by his blood -
to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen"
Revelation 1:5,6.

Dear Friends,

As we commence another new year there can be no better thing for us to do than to seek afresh to know and have fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Another year presents us with a host of unknown possibilities, no doubt with problems as well as joys. Life will continue to present to us its varied experiences. Only Jesus can take us through this coming year with safety and assurance.

The verse I have chosen for 1995 takes us to Jesus. The context from which these words are taken is well worth giving time to read and meditate upon, because there is so much more there about Jesus than the few words on our message card. The few words on the message card are simply the ones I felt a need to concentrate on, and I would share some thought upon them with you.

The chief thing I feel the need to remember for myself, and what I feel all of us cannot be assured about enough, is the love of Jesus for us. These are the highlighted words - that is in larger print. I want to have these words ringing in my ears and informing my mind and touching my heart all the time. Jesus has not only loved me in the past; he loves me now - "to Him who loves us".

When Jesus loved me in dying for me it was not just a love that gave me a second chance, or provided me with a new start and resources for the future, but it was an infinite love that looked upon me as I was and am and would be, and loved me forever with a boundless depth of love which will never cease towards me. He loves me with a love that never ceases or diminishes. It is an everlasting love. This is what these words tell me. This is what these words are telling every Christian. It is what these words are telling you.

I find this so needful in this world. However much love there is from our family, friends and in the fellowship of the church, this human love fails from time to time. Human love is always uncertain. The most unexpected thing can upset it. People can turn away from us all too easily. Human love can be quickly lost if life or action on our part does not meet the demands of others.

Further, however great is the love of others, human love has not the resources or the ability to meet the demands which our deep need to be loved requires. Often when the demands of others for love press upon us, we withdraw because we can't cope. Often we long for a demonstration of love which people do not appreciate and have no comprehension to give. All of us have limited time, limited understanding, and limited reservoir of affection to give. Our own need to be loved gets in the way of our being able to love to the uttermost. Human love is rarely unconditional. There is always some pressure applied with the love. This immediately diminishes its healing quality.

All of us know also that if people knew the worst about us and what we are, they would without doubt turn from us. Each human being has a built in aversion to some aspects of human attitude and failure which they automatically turn away from. It is very rare to be able to be totally open with someone and know that they will not turn away from us.

This is why the love of Jesus is so wonderful and precious. When, because of his great love, he died for me, at that time he looked at all my sin and degradation. He looked at all my failure and rebellion. He looked at every sin that I had ever committed and that I ever will commit. He looked at and knew the total defilement of them, and tasted the full degradation of them. He had to do this because he had to make them all his own and know clearly and exactly all the filth of them, because in his great everlasting love he was to bear their guilt and punishment in my place, and suffer the full and just wrath, judgement and punishment of God against them, and go to hell in my place.

Because of this he can never be surprised and taken unawares by what I am. His love can never diminish towards me, for at that moment when he determined to go to the cross for me in love, he had taken into himself all that I am.

This is true for ever Christian. This is what is being said here by St. John in the words "and has freed us from our sins by his blood". Not only does this mean that we are freed from the punishment for our sins, but also we are freed from the separation our sins would make in our relationship with God, the Father, and with Him. His love therefore never ceases towards us.

Human love is always subject to faltering, because it is not based on the whole knowledge of anyone, and therefore can be overwhelmed by new revelations or experiences of the one being loved.

May I encourage you to look away to Jesus throughout this new year in order to live in the light, assurance and experience of his great love for you. Let the words "To Him who loves us" constantly ring in your ears, and encourage your soul. Think upon this fact so that you are upheld and protected every moment by this love. Whatever life or the world or others is bringing to you, lift up your heart because Jesus loves you.

No wonder the apostle ends his words by saying "to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Your servant for Christ's sake,