Beloved

When Jesus was being baptized by John a voice from Heaven could be heard saying, This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 5:17 KJV). God the Father did not simply say, “This is My Son.” but beloved Son. The Greek word here for beloved is agapesos. It means dearly and precious.

The Father knew the trials Jesus would face all the way to the cross. He knew the agonizing death Jesus would endure for you and me. Since Jesus was beloved, the Father would impart to Jesus all the emotional strength He would need to face, endure, and triumph over our sin on the cross. Magnificently, Jesus also triumphed over death. The grave could not hold Him. Therefore, because our life is hid with Christ in God, (Colossians 3:3 KJV) the grave will not hold us either.

Jesus gained that godly strength from His Father by spending intimate time with Him everyday. Throughout the Gospels we read of Jesus rising early to go someplace to be alone with His Father. This is not just a record of the movements of Jesus; it is recorded as an example for each of us to follow. If Jesus, perfect Son of God, needed alone time with His Father, how much more do we need it?

You see, just as Jesus needed strength for each day of hardship and challenge that He faced, you and I need Gods’ own strength for our hardships and trials along life’s journey. Also, we must know of a certainty that something wonderful happens when we spend time alone with God. We begin to realize the beauty of the fact — as Jesus was beloved of His Father, so are we beloved who become His children when we receive Jesus’ gift of salvation.

When we bask in the loveliness of Father’s presence, we drink in the beauty of His glory and grace. We begin to realize and firmly know beyond all doubt that we are loved dearly by Him. We are precious to Him. When we cry, we are so beloved that Father collects all our tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). He plans our paths just as He planned the paths of Jesus. He knows when it will be easy, when it will be difficult, and when it will be grievous. In every moment of our lives we never cease to be dearly loved, counted as precious to Him. Therefore, be assured, just as He gave strength and peace of mind and heart to Jesus as He faced the hardest challenge of all — to allow Himself to be hanged on a cross for you and for me, so will He give us strength and peace of mind to face our every trial.

Whatever you face today, remember, with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37 KJV). To soak in that truth and live daily in it, do as Jesus did. Spend alone time with God everyday for you are dear and precious to Him. You are beloved,