Somebody Loves Me

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER

RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK

(Revised: 2015)

ILL. A little boy who lives up north was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of his friend who lived only a few blocks away. When the day finally arrived, a snowstorm was making driving hazardous.

But the boy insisted that didn’t matter – he could walk to his friend’s home. And he could do it all by himself. He didn’t need any help. In fact, he didn’t want any help. He was a big boy now.

Still his father hesitated. "But Dad," he pleaded, "all the other kids will be there. Their parents are letting them go.” Finally, the father replied, "All right, if that’s what you really want to do.”

Overjoyed, the boy bundled up for the trip & plunged out into the storm. The swirling snow sometimes made it difficult for him to see, & it took him nearly half an hour of trudging through the snow to get there.

But finally he was there. He climbed the porch steps, & reached up to ring the doorbell. As he did he turned briefly to look back behind him, & through the blowing snow he saw the receding figure of a man. It was his father who had followed him all the way just to make sure that he arrived safely at his destination.

I like that! I like the idea of a father who would allow his son to tackle something difficult on his own, but who at the same time would make sure to be there if he were needed. I think that’s one of the characteristics & evidences of real love.

You know, I’m convinced that each of us needs someone to watch over us, someone who really cares about us, someone who’ll celebrate with us in the great events of our lives, who’ll offer us a shoulder to cry on in seasons of sorrow, & encouraging words when we need them most.

PROP. With that in mind, listen to these words of Scripture found in 1 Peter 3:12, "… the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous & His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

I. HIS EYES ARE ON US

Did you hear that? The apostle Peter tells us that “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous..."

And Psalm 139:1-3 says, “O Lord, you have searched me & you know me. You know when I sit & when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out & my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. …

“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. … (Vs’s 8-10)

“You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully & wonderfully made…” (Vs’s 13-14)

The writer of thast Psalm says that God knows us & loves us! He knows us even better than we know ourselves. And His eyes are upon us!

He is aware of the frustrations that weary us, the dreams we have dared to dream even when everyone else doubted, the fears that trouble us, & the joys that fill our hearts. He knows our disappointments, & the heartaches that have come our way. He knows us! You see, He created us, & He loves us.

And in the midst of all that complicates our lives - remember this simple but marvelous truth: "…the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous." And because they are, be assured also that “His ears are attentive to their prayer"

II. HIS EARS ARE OPEN TO US

ILL. Charles Swindoll, in his book “Stress Fractures,” tells about one time finding himself in a bind with just too many commitments & not nearly enough time in which to accomplish them. As a result, he became very nervous & tense.

"I was snapping at my wife & our children, rushing through my meals, & feeling irritated at any unexpected interruption during the day. Before long, things around our home started reflecting the pattern of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable.

"I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began speaking rapidly, ’Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin’ & I’ll tell you really fast.’

"Suddenly realizing what my frustration was doing to her, I answered, 'Honey, you can tell me - & you don’t have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly.’ I’ll never forget her response: 'Then you listen slowly.’ (Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, Page 13-14)