-February 18, 2023-
Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,
“And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17).
“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him’” Matthew 17:5)!
On two occasions that we have in the gospel accounts, our Heavenly Father is heard speaking to His beloved Son. The first was after John the Baptist baptized Him and the other was on the Mount of Transfiguration. In both cases, God says, This is My well beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus was and is the Son of God: perfect, sinless, innocent, and holy. He was fully God and fully man. He was the only one qualified to be our Substitute and Savior. The Father was well pleased with Him and we are pleased as well. In John 5:31-39, Jesus mentions His Fourfold witnesses: His works, John the Baptist, the Father, and the Scriptures. The Father was pleased with His life, His ministry, and His death on the cross for our sins. Because He was satisfied with His sacrifice for our sins, He raised Him from the dead.
No one living or dead, can compare to Jesus. The people were amazed by the miracles He performed. Mark 7:37 says, “And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’” This was a type of our lives before Christ: deaf to God and unable to speak to Him. Now that we are saved He is our Beloved. He is our heavenly Bridegroom and we are His Bride.
There is a beautiful hymn, entitled, “Immanuel’s Land, written by Ann Ross Cousin. One the verses says, “Oh! I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved’s mine! He brings a poor vile sinner into His house of wine! I stand upon His merit. I know no other stand, not e’en where glory dwelleth, in Immanuel’s land.” One day when we are in His presence, we will fall on our faces before Him and worship Him. We will sing His praises and thank Him for all His done for us. While we are still on this earth, let us in our limited capacity and way do the same. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
We are His beloved. Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude all refer to believers in Christ as beloved. On the Mount, God added, “Hear Him!” We want to hear His voice speaking through His Word. Have a blessed day at church. Stay safe and healthy.
Accepted in the Beloved,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 