A friend of mine, David, was ministering in a high security prison as a student chaplain. He was assigned to visit with a certain prisoner each week. This prisoner was a convicted murderer, feared and respected by the other inmates.

My friend met with him for several weeks without much success. One day, God put on his heart to write this man a letter. In the letter David told the prisoner that God loved him. When David returned the next week, the man was different. He listened as David talked with him about God’s love and forgiveness. Within a few weeks, the man repented of his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior.

He told David it was the letter that touched him for no one had ever said they loved him. His parents didn’t care for him, and he had a loveless marriage. But God loved him–even a convicted criminal. In fact, God loved him so much that His Son Jesus died on the cross for him. The love of God changed this man’s life.

I don’t know who you are or what you’ve done, but God loves you too. He is willing to forgive you if you will repent of your sins and put your faith in Christ. Jesus is real. He lives, and He can change your life today!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (The Bible, John 3:16, New King James Version).