Do You Know that You Are the Beloved of God?

January 14, 2023

Do You Know That You Are the Beloved of God?

Do You Know that You Are the Beloved of God?

By Brooke Holt

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from the heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17

Crowds were still flocking to John the Baptist out in the desert. His ministry seemed to be at an all-time high as one person after another came to be baptized in the Jordan river. While each day brought new people, the work of John the Baptist never wavered. He was the messenger sent to prepare the way of the Lord (see Mark 1:2-3). And sure enough, on this particular day, the one for whom he had been watching and waiting also came to be baptized. While John resisted Jesus’ request, Jesus pressed on and provided quite a show for those gathered at the Jordan that day.

Jesus was baptized by John in the typical fashion. What was not typical was the sky opening, the Spirit of God descending, and the voice that came from heaven. It must have been amazing, shocking, and hard to comprehend this sight and this voice resounding from the heavens. Wasn’t this Jesus from Galilee? How could a man truly be the Son of God? In the midst of the awe, wonder, and myriad of questions we find the answer to this question about Jesus. The Lord declared Jesus was his beloved Son and the one in whom he was well pleased.

Jesus came down in human flesh to reveal the heart of the Father: he healed the lepers, the lame, and the sick. Jesus saw the hunger of the five thousand plus people and provided an abundance of bread and fish from just five loaves and two fish. Jesus cast out demons so that his people would be free from their oppression. If that was not enough, Jesus took his love all the way to the cross to die so that his people may have eternal life with the Father.

Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, these words of the Father are not just for Jesus but words for you. In Christ, you are now the beloved of the Father. He is pleased with you! You may have questions, doubts, and challenges in receiving this truth for yourself just as the people had the day of Jesus’ baptism. But the answer remains steadfast and secure for you as it was for Jesus. You are the beloved of God, and today is the day to choose belief in this divine love for you.

Reflection:

Do these words ring true for you today? What more could Jesus do to show his love? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

Why is trust so difficult? Unlike all the broken promises of this world, God’s redeeming promises are absolute, trustworthy, and true. The covenants of God afford us with abundant reasons to trust God with his plan for our lives. Trusting God: Redeeming Promises of the Word small group Bible study explores the six major redeeming promises of God found in his Word. Learn more about God’s commitment to his people, the nature of a covenant, and how you can find your security in being a child of God’s redeeming promises. Learn more about God’s promises today.

Waters of Baptism