ALL INCLUSIVE – Tammy Ortung
Whenever I read the Book of John, I’m always struck by how he describes himself as “the one whom Jesus loved.” It has only been within the last decade that I realized John is the only person in scripture who refers to himself this way. He was a man who spoke with confidence, declaring himself to be “the one” Jesus loved, almost sounding exclusive. What a joyous feeling it would be to have such intimacy with Jesus that we felt as if He loved us above all else.
Are you confident that you are “the one” God loves? Have you experienced His unfailing adoration? Many of us feel unworthy, like if people really knew us…they wouldn’t like us. We live with a constant fear of rejection and judgment from others—and God. Yet God’s love is like no other.
“For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV) I wonder. Do we minimize Christ’s sacrifice on the cross when we doubt that we are lovable? God sent his Son to die for us even while we were still living lives of self-gratification. Spoiled, ungrateful, and flawed, but He still loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus, as the atoning sacrifice for all our mistakes and bad choices.
Amazing love. In our limited, feeble minds, it is difficult for us to fully comprehend God’s great love for us, but just as John described himself as “the one that Jesus loved,” we too, can be confident that God sees beyond all the flaws and loves us abundantly.
Tammy Ortung is a 25-year military veteran with a heart for serving God and making a difference in the lives of others. Contact
