Category: Loved

Let’s read aloud the following scripture and prayer.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17 NIV

We believe in one God, the Father,
the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
and all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
[In Jesus’ name we pray.] Amen.
Nicene Creed

Let’s adore our Lord Jesus and celebrate his great love and salvation as we sing “You Keep Your Promises” by Charity Gayle (click here).

– CHH

Colossians 3:12 NIV
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

“Christians are God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. God has assured them in Christ that their membership in his people, their being ‘set apart’ for his service (that is the underlying meaning of ‘holy’), depends not on their goodness but on his grace, not on their lovableness but on his love. These titles are not only used of Israel in the Old Testament, but also of Jesus Christ in the New: he is the ‘chosen’ one (1 Pet. 2:4, 6), the holy one (John 6:69; Acts 4:27, 30, etc.), the one supremely beloved by the Father (Matt. 3:17; Eph. 1:6, etc.). It is in him that Christians find their identity as God’s people.” (N. T. Wright, Colossians and Philemon: An Introduction and Commentary)

Being a beloved, just like Jesus Christ, is the greatest blessing and best life. Not only are we to be loved, but we are to be love – it’s a 2-way street here. It’s the natural overflow from God pouring out his love into us through the Holy Spirit. Being clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, as Colossians 3 talks about, are all aspects of God’s great love exemplified in Jesus and given to us through the Spirit. God’s very presence clothes us to be love to all those around us.

Prayer: God, what wonder that we are supremely and dearly loved. Thank you for setting me apart for your kingdom work, so as to not earn your love but to participate from your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s desire to be more like Jesus as we meditate on his love with “Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” by CityAlight. (click here).

– CHH

1 John 4:10, 16 NIV
¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

Romans 5:5 NIV
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

“It is not our love that is primary but God’s, free, uncaused and spontaneous, and all our love is but a reflection of his and a response to it. The coming of Christ is, therefore, a concrete, historical revelation of God’s love, for love (agapē) is self-sacrifice, the seeking of another’s positive good at one’s own cost, and a greater self-giving than God’s gift of his Son there has never been, nor could be.” (John Stott, The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary)

As God’s beloved, we get to be loved in the fullest sense, because of what Jesus Christ has done in coming after us and saving us. God is love! And we can know and rely on this infinite love as God has poured his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Father, I stand in awe of how wide and long and high and deep is your love for me. It truly is so great. Help me to put aside whatever blocks your love from being poured into me to overflowing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Love So High” by Matt Redman over the areas where we want to know and rely more on Christ’s love (click here).

– CHH

Isaiah 43:1 NIV
But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

1 Thessalonians 1:4 NRSVUE
For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you…

“Imagine a couple passing by an alley and noticing a poor, homeless child lying on the ground half-dead. Their heart goes out to the child and they rush over and carefully scoop her up and find her care, later adopting her into their family. They were not forced to shelter her, but they went out of their way to rescue her and she becomes precious, one-of-a-kind, an object selected through persistent attention and interest. No doubt, in the midst of their trials and tribulations, the Thessalonians felt ignored by God. Perhaps they felt rejected. Paul responds tenderly: he chose you then, he loves you now.” (Nijay Gupta, 1-2 Thessalonians: A New Covenant Commentary)

Wonderfully, we are chosen by God to be loved. As Isaiah 43:1 declares, we have nothing to fear when it comes to what we’re facing, how we’re feeling, or the mistakes that we’ve made. God, who created us and formed us and saved us, is the one who redeems us by his perfect love that does not change.

Prayer: Lord, I let go of who I think I am to receive who you say I am. Thank you that you call me by name and I do not have to fear for I am yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s praise the One who has redeemed us with “By The Grace Of God” by Bethel Music (click here).

– CHH

1 Thessalonians 1:4 NRSVUE
For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you…

“For most of my life, I wanted to be known for my integrity, sacrificial love, or powerful teaching. I admired the stories of Elijah calling down fire, Peter walking on water, and Paul suffering greatly to spread the gospel. I could not relate in the same way with John… But over time, I’ve learned that you can live a seemingly useful life that is void of the very thing you were created for: the enjoyment of God… Only recently did I realize the word ‘beloved’ is two words combined: be loved… We are God’s beloved children, and He wants us to be able to simply be loved. Not striving, just believing and enjoying and resting in His perfect love.” (Francis Chan, Beloved)

“Beloved” is not so much a verb as it is a descriptor – it’s referring to our true identity. As those who belong to Christ, we are dearly loved and precious to the Lord. Deeply knowing and experiencing this can change how we are able to rest at night and awaken to face the day. Being God’s beloved isn’t based on our circumstances, feelings, or accomplishments; it’s based on God’s choice. All Christians are always God’s beloved because he has chosen us.

Prayer: God, help me to know how much I am loved by you, personally and for those around me. Open the eyes of my heart to understand even more fully how I am beloved. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship our Lord with “Jesus Loves Me” by Christ Tomlin (click here).

– CHH