There is an old story about the theologian, Karl Barth [pronounced "Bart"with a soft "t"], who was on a speaking tour of the United States. On college campuses all across this country, he was drawing huge crowds to hear his very complex answers to the questions of life.

When he was speaking at PrincetonUniversity, the great hall was packed with faculty, students, and visitors who came to hear Karl Barth speak. During the question and answer period, one student asked, "Dr.Barth, may I ask you a personal question?"

Dr. Barth smiled and said, "Yes, you may ask anything."

The student then asked, "Dr. Barth, you are a very educated man. What is the greatest truth you have ever learned?"

Dr. Barth bowed his head, thinking for a moment about how he would respond. Then, he raised his head and looked out at the student who asked the question and he said, "The greatest truth I ever learned was at my mother's knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.' "

The secret of effective living is to discover the truth about Jesus Christ. When we focus on him, we have discovered that truth is a caring love, truth is the Word becoming flesh. Truth is experiencing his life-giving power. Truth is discovering his love with arms outstretched to embrace us. When we grasp this truth, we have discovered the secret to effective living.

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Note: This often cited story appears to be true as an eye witness has corroborated it. See this blog and the authors attempt to verify the information: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2013/01/did-karl-barth-really-say-jesus-loves-me-this-i-know/