First, I would like to say hello! It has been a while since I last wrote, hasn’t it? I was going through this week dealing with all sorts of things in my personal life, and I thought it would be worth sharing what God has taught me through this experience. I don’t know the length of this writing, whether it will be short or long, but my hope is that each person who reads this is left feeling more comforted by its content.

I would like the verse focus for today’s blog post to be from Matthew 3:17. It says. “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Often, whether it is because of how we grew up or how we have conditioned ourselves in adulthood, we tend to mix the nature of God with the nature of man. The nature of man says, The more you do this, the more I will love and care for you, while the nature of God starts from love and expects us to act according to the love he has generously extended. If you are anything like I am, being a recovering people pleaser is no joke. That is why this verse will always hold a special place in my heart. Desire for the love of a parent, a friend, or any person around us can be so taxing and draining to the point of wanting to completely isolate yourself from society. Looking to man for love and attention is like drawing water from a bucket. At some point, that bucket will run out of water. However, the love of God is like a stream that has no end to it. You can always depend on the love of God to be your foundation and your sustainer. When I read this verse and understood its context, it gave me this boost of confidence that can only come from God. Keep in mind, when this voice from heaven was saying these things about Jesus, Jesus had not even been tempted yet nor had he started his public ministry. What a great way to start this life-changing mission Jesus was on in this earth! “Whom I love; with him I am well pleased”. These words have started ringing in my ear as a reminder every day ever since the Holy Spirit revealed its meaning to me.

Child of God, do you understand that this, too, is our portion because we have accepted Jesus as our personal savior and Lord? We don’t have to earn the love of God or his favor. Frankly, because of our sinful nature, it is literally impossible. The heart is wicked by nature without Christ, and we cannot approach the holy and awesome God without Christ. In Christ, we, too, are loved and have found favor in the sight of the Holy God. Have you ever heard of the song (well, it is more of a children’s song, but it helps to get my message across, so bear with me here) that goes “I am so glad that Jesus loves me…Jesus loves even me”? I wish I had the perfect words to write about this love’s magnitude! The Bible says, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15). I hope this understanding can lighten some type of load you have been carrying in your life because I know it has for me. I don’t serve before the Lord for him to love me and to find favor before Him. Because of Jesus, my sinless, perfect savior, I am already loved and have found favor before the Lord! What follows then from this understanding is the growth of the fruits of the Spirit in my life! brothers and sisters, I don’t know where you usually start when you approach God or when you serve Him, but may I suggest this life-changing understanding? Start from the Love of God. Start from the favor of God that has been generously given to us through the Son, Jesus Christ! May the Holy Spirit continue to help us as we become more immersed in this truth, seek to know God, and serve Him! Amen!

What are some additional thoughts you have in regards to this matter? I would love to know about them!

Shalom!