Today’s Verse Luke 3:21-22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
”Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved;[a] with you I am well pleased.”
One of my favorite words is “beloved”. To be dearly loved is high on my wish list and the word beloved just rolls off the tongue so smoothly and beautifully. It has so much depth to it. It is so important to me I put it in my personal mantra. (see my blog “Who Are You? March 27, 2019).
The book that I am currently reading is Pastrix by Nadia Bolz-Weber (I highly recommend her books). What do I come across but the verse above and these words:
“And the Word that had most recently come from the mouth of God was, “This is my beloved in whom I am well pleased.” Identity. It’s always God’s first move. Before we do anything wrong and before we do anything right, God has named and claimed us as God’s own. But almost immediately, other things try to tell us who we are and to whom we belong: capitalism, the weight-loss industrial complex, our parents, kids at school – they all have a go at telling us who we are. But only God can do that. Everything else is temptation.” I encourage you to read her book and get her take on the temptation part. Very interesting reading.
My prayer for you today is that you hold in your mind and in your heart who you are.
Do not let anyone, and thought, or anything tell you otherwise. Never forget the fact that God does not make mistakes. She created you just as you are and She says that YOU are Her beloved.
Peace,