Beloved

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10

How would you describe yourself to a stranger? Maybe you’d choose the genealogical explanation – you’re the daughter of, sister of, or great grandniece of a historical hero. Maybe you’d choose the route of your birthplace, Alma Mater, or career path.

What if you had to narrow down the description of yourself to a single word? What word would you choose? May I suggest the name Beloved. When you peel away all the layers of your identity, it comes down to one essential truth – the truth that even toddlers know and sing –Jesus loves me! He loves you; we are His Beloved!

Brennan Manning in his book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, writes, “My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.”

Do you struggle to accept such a no-strings-attached love? Dave, a friend of a friend, is wrestling with this gift. When a pastor told him that going to Heaven and being in God’s grace was more than just “being a good person”, he was shocked. He even got a bit perturbed with his believer friends that they hadn’t let him in on this great secret!

Friends, it’s no secret! God’s unfailing love for you cannot be shaken (Isaiah 54:10)! God’s love for you cannot be earned(Ephesians 1:4b-6)! God’s love for you is not deserved (Romans 5:8)!

Within his gripping, beautiful song, How Deep the Father’s Love For Us, Stuart Townend writes, “I will not boast in anything; no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection.”

God’s love comes to us through Christ alone! We’re not entitled to God’s love. It is not obtained through personal merit – our gifts, wisdom, or power. It’s only through the cross that we can belong to our Abba and receive His immeasurable love.

What are your secret thoughts? Do you believe that your sins have disqualified you from receiving Jesus’ love? Do you think there is just too much hurt and garbage that stands between you and Jesus? If so, surrender it to Him.

Hear the truth. Believe the truth. Proclaim the truth. You are God’s beloved. He is head over heels in love with you!

Faith Step

Beloved, don’t keep it a secret. Tell someone about God’s love for him or her today!

If in our hearts we really don’t believe that God loves us as we are, if we are still tainted by the lie that we can do something to make God love us more, we are rejecting the message of the cross.

Brennan Manning