YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON!
Jesus became a man to save us and show us what true manhood is. As we reflect on His birth, life, death and resurrection, we realize that Jesus is a man who came and lived for others and we are called to emulate Him. Jesus strength for humanity came during His baptism, when the heavens opened up and the spirit-like dove descended upon Him. A voice of God, the Father spoke from heaven saying, “You are my beloved son, of whom I’m well pleased” [Mark 1:11]. The power that fell upon Him gave credence to His personality and strength to enter into the wilderness, knowing that no matter where He is, He is God’s beloved son. With authority by the power of the Holy Spirit, He can do great things just as if He was in heaven. This experience equipped Him to living the life God the Father purposed for Him on earth. By this confirmation – you are my beloved son, He got the power needed for His humanity.
It could be your father never told you how beloved you are to him and you must have come from dysfunctional family. As matter of fact, every one came from some sort of dysfunctional family since no one is perfect. But our heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us salvation and eternity through the death and resurrection of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. By what Jesus did on the cross, He gave us a future, new life and hope beyond the past father’s wound. It’s a high time we knew who our true father is and how much He loves us. It does not matter whether we have a bad or good earthly father, a close and supportive or distant and absent father, the reality is we have the same Father in heaven. Knowledge of our heavenly father who loves unconditionally brings healing to our souls, anywhere we are, even when our earthly fathers forsake us.
Many people never knew who their true father is. If you come and follow God just because of fear of hell, then you are missing the point. Some folks often ask: how do I know God loves me? You can’t know God’s love without knowing who God is. To get to know God, you have to first be saved or born again. You do this by simply profession of our faith in Jesus Christ, and make Him the Lord and the Master of your life. This comes after you’ve realized that like all mankind, you are a sinner; this conviction of the Holy Spirit is the beginning of getting saved. You then have to confess your sins and repent of them honestly. After that, the break must be made solid by spending time in the word of God because the word of God is God and has the power to transform us; devote your life to prayers and meditation and do it in spirit, ceaselessly. God says, He who created you and formed you says fear not for I have redeemed and called you by name: you are mine.” “….because you are precious to me and I love you and give you honor, I shall give men in exchange for your life” [Isaiah 43:1, 4].
Many people live their lives in fears and fears are the biggest problems that human beings face. People fear what is going to happen tomorrow; how they shall cope without money in their pocket; lack of jobs and survival even in the midst of economic depression and distress. People fear death…insecurity, those at the top fear going down and fear beginning again, to live without……etc. We allow fear to control our lives and stir our boat. Yet God says everywhere in the scriptures, fear not or do not be afraid; you are no longer a slave but a beloved son [Galatians 4: 7]. We shouldn’t be afraid because God has redeemed us; He Knows us by name and we are precious in His eyes. He will never forsake us. Do you ever know how precious you are in God’s eyes? Do you believe that God loves you dearly? You are a beloved son or daughter of God. God speaks and comfort us each time that we are His beloved children. You can hear especially in the moment of silence, in your inner mind, the Breathe of God, which is the Spirit of God reassuring you that you are a beloved son.
There is a difference between “you are a creature of God” and “you are a beloved son of God.” You can be a creature of God but God is not your father. During the baptism of Jesus, the breath of God came upon Him and a voice from heaven proclaimed, you are my beloved son. When we get baptized we become adopted by God and the Spirit of God confirms us as God’s beloved children – son or daughter. We stop being just a creation of God and become the son and daughter of the father by the power of the Holy Spirit. We did not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear [Romans 8:15]. Apostle Paul also said, “because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His son into your hearts, crying Abba Father; so through God you are no longer slaves but sons/children [Galatians 4:6-7].
God desires intimacy with us. Rev Fr. Larry Richards in his book, BE A MAN said the word intimacy means “into-me-see.” He went further to say, “God not only wants to have intimacy looking inside of you but He wants you to look inside of Him and see who He is.” He is your Father. He’s more than your Father. But He’s your dad. He’s your Papa.” Call no man your father [Matthew 23:6]. The Father loves the son, the son loves the Father and their love is so real. It’s the Spirit. The spirit‘s job is to pick us up and drew us into a relationship with the God’s head (the Trinity). When we cry out “Abba” we enter into intimacy with the Father. The Father then holds us and says, “You are my beloved son” [John 3:1]. Our life is all about intimacy with our dad. Ritual without relationship is folly. For the same reason, earthly parents are encouraged to build intimacy with their children; hold them close to heart, looking into their eyes and reassure each of them times without number, you are a beloved son or daughter. This is the call of the time we live in and the challenge of parenthood.
The more you learn to decrease, the more God spirit increases in you. You make a daily decision to yield yourself to God by being in intimate relationship with Him. You go to Him in prayers and meditation as well as in studying and meditating the scriptures. The Holy Spirit gets you into daily dance of love with Christ and you sing with the heavenly, “I am a beloved child, I am a beloved child, Jesus makes me a beloved child, I am a beloved child.”
Reach Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill @ weefreeministries.org or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.