Above picture was taken a few years ago on a hike through Grayson Highlands State Park, VA. Photo taken by my wife Kelly depicting me carrying my daughter Macie as she was hiking!?!?!? Put on Beloved-ness!
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:12-15 ESV).”
Of all the descriptors the Lord uses in His Word to speak of His children, the term beloved is one that I most cherish. The term beloved reveals the heart of our Lord toward us His people. We are beloved. We are those who are most cherished by our God. Because we are so dearly loved, Jesus Himself chose to come to us to redeem us while we were yet sinners. He saw fit, due to love to lay down His own life in atonement for the sin that separates us from Himself. John tells us that there is no greater love than one who lays down His own life for those who are beloved.[1] This being the very thing our Savior chose to submit to in His love for those whom He beloves. He loves us so much that betrayal, suffering, torment, death and the grave would not deter Him from rescuing us due to His great love.
This term beloved implies to be found within the gaze of the one who loves. One who is beloved is one who is beheld. The attention of our Lord falls upon us, His beloved. As we wallow in sin being those who have fallen from grace, our Lord looks upon us in love. In our suffering, He pours out compassion. In our struggle, He comforts us with His mercy. In our wondering, He offers us His authority. In weakness, He carries us in His arms. In separation, He fights for us destroying our enemies under His feet.[2] He looks upon us in love knowing our struggle. We, His beloved children whom He chose to be His very own precious possession are held within His hands.[3] Those who are beloved are those who are gazed upon by the One who loves. What more precious aspect of being is there than to be considered beloved of God? I can think of nothing more precious. All praise, glory and thanksgiving to our Savior, Messiah and Lord Jesus for choosing us to be His.
As those who have been redeemed by the love of Jesus, put on then beloved-ness. Know that the Lord looks upon you as His precious possession. Take confidence in the fact that Our Savior is faithful even in our unfaithfulness. Submit to His authority and pray for His provision to help us overcome those things that attempt to cause us to stumble. In our weakness, He is our strength. In affliction, He is our comfort. In trial, He is our guide. Chose then to remember that you are one who is favored in the sight of our Messiah, His beloved. Amen!
[1] John 15:13
[2] Psalm 110
[3] 1 Peter 2:9
Corby Shuey 