“Daddy,” called four-year-old Mike from his bedroom. He was supposed to be getting ready for bed, but it sure was taking him a long time.
“Yes, Mike,” answered Daddy from the living room where he was reading. “What is it?”
“I have a secret to tell you.”
“That’s nice, but are you getting ready for bed?” Daddy asked, still reading.
“Yes I am, but can I tell you the secret right now?” asked Mike.
“Not right now, Mike. Tell it to your Teddy first while you finish getting ready for bed,” said Daddy. He could hear some whispering in Mike’s room but couldn’t hear what Mike was saying.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, Mike.”
“I told Teddy. Can I tell you now?”
“Tell your lion now,” said Daddy, hoping to finish the chapter he was reading.
“Okay, Daddy.”
So now the secret was quietly whispered to the toy lion that shared the bed with Mike and Teddy.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, Mike.”
“I told Teddy and my lion. Now can I tell you?”
“Tell your fish, and then you can tell me,” answered Daddy.
The secret was passed on now to the fish in the fish bowl. Mike was getting practice by repeating the secret, and it took him less time to tell the fish than it did to tell Teddy or his lion.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, Mike.”
“I told my secret to Teddy and to my lion and to the fish. Now can I tell you?”
“All right,” said Daddy. “Come on down and tell me.”
“But, Daddy, you have to put your book down,” insisted Mike as he ran into the living room.
“Okay, I will,” said Daddy, closing the book and setting it aside.
“It’s a secret, Daddy, and so you won’t tell anyone, will you?”
“No, I won’t tell anyone . . . I promise.”
“Are you listening real good?” asked Mike.
“Yes, Mike, I’m listening real good. Now what’s your secret? Whisper it in my ear.”
Then Mike whispered, “I love you, Daddy!”
“Is that the secret, Mike?” asked Daddy with a big smile on his face. Then lifting him onto his lap he said to Mike, “Thank you for telling me, and Daddy loves you too, very much.”
There is One who is not keeping it a secret that He loves you. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Word, the Bible, we read, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He [Jesus] laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:1616Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)).
The Lord Jesus yearns to show you His love, and He is trying to get your attention. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)). He wants you to listen to Him “real good.” He has a wonderful story to tell you about the love that brought Him to this world to die for sinners (and that’s you and me). He will tell you of His love that made Him stay on the cross while He was punished for the sins of everyone who will accept Him as their Saviour. He wants to tell you of His blood which He shed that has the power to wash all your sins away. If you trust in Him, He will show you the love that He has for you, not just in this life, but forever with Him in heaven. All this He has for you, if you will only listen and accept His love.
ML-10/17/2004