If you’re a parent, you will remember the exultant joy you felt when you first held that baby. It’s a feeling that is quite indescribable to those who haven’t experienced it. It’s pure, unadulterated joy…
Do you know that God the Father feels that way about you?
Let’s look at this a step at a time [because I can hear the mob forming outside my door…]
First, He declared Jesus to be His Beloved Son…
‘After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “ This is My BELOVED Son*, in whom I am well-pleased.”’ [Matthew 3:16,17; also Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35]
*Or My Son, the BELOVED…
‘But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, and warned them not to tell who He was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:“Behold, MY Servant whom I have chosen; MY BELOVED in whom MY soul is well-pleased…”’ [Matthew 12:18]
‘While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My BELOVED Son, with whom I am well- pleased; listen to Him!”’ [Matthew 17:5]
‘For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My BELOVED Son with whom I am well- pleased”’ [2 Peter 1:17]
Now guess what? You are His BELOVED, as well!
‘…to all who are BELOVED of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ [Romans 1:7]
‘He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us IN the BELOVED.’ [Ephesians 1:5,6]
‘Therefore be imitators of God, as BELOVED children…’ [Ephesians 5:1]
‘So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and BELOVED, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…’ [Galatians 3:12]
‘…knowing, brethren BELOVED by God, His choice of you…’ [1 Thessalonians 1:4]
‘But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren BELOVED by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.’ [2 Thessalonians 2:13]
“I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, AND LOVED ME, EVEN AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME.” [John 17:23]
We are IN Him, by God’s doing! [1 Corinthians 1:30]
‘For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are YES; therefore also through Him is our AMEN to the glory of God through us.’ [2 Corinthians 1:20]
I know that, if you’ve been in the Church for any amount of time, you’ve heard that God loves you.
But do you really thing of yourself as Beloved? Probably not. We’ve been beaten over the head with so many heresies about how God sees us or doesn’t see us. But the Biblical truth is that we are His BELOVED! Doesn’t that just warm your heart?
He looks at us IN His Son, Jesus—we have BEEN MADE the righteousness of God IN HIM—complete, IN HIM, The BELOVED. Just as you instantly loved that newborn infant placed into your arms, even more He loves us—really loves us, as His BELOVED—not as some Christian catch phrase.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him?” [Matthew 7:11]
Notice Jesus, when talking to the crowd, called His Father “Your Father…” Hallelujah, we’re His BELOVED children!!
And remember Zephaniah 3:17…
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
Hallelujah!!
