May 10 I Monday

2 Kings 10-12

John 1:29-51

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine....Since you are precious and honoured in My sight, and because I love you…” —Isaiah 43:1, 4

I once read an article where a psychologist said there are three things that a child needs to hear from their parents. Firstly, “you are mine.” Secondly, “I love you.” Lastly, “I am pleased with you.” As I reflected on these three statements, I thought, “Isn’t it intriguing that this was exactly what God the Father said to His Son?” When Jesus was baptized, a voice from heaven said, “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). God the Father affirmed to His Son, “You are mine. I love You. I am pleased with You.”

       All families have different traditions. In my family, when our children would go to bed––at least when they were younger; as they grew older, we gave them the freedom to not do this––we would go into their rooms, sit on the edge of their bed, talk to them about their day, life and everything else, pray with them and then give them a hug. With my son, I used to tell him a little story about when God created him. I would start with God asking Himself, “What am I going to do with this little boy? Where can I put him?” After some moments of silence, I would add that God would say “I think I’ll give him to so and so” and I would name a whole list of people that God would think of giving my son to, and my son would respond, ”Oh no” each time, because none of these couples would work. Eventually, I would say in this story that God said, “What am I going to do with this little boy? Oh, look at Charles and Hilary Price over there, they could do a little boy. Why don’t I give him to them?” My son would loudly proclaim, “YES!” and hug me at the same time. My son is mine. 

       Regardless of our present age, we all want to know that we belong, we are loved and we are pleasing. How amazing to have the assurance of this in Christ. If we are in Christ, what is true of Christ is true of us as well, because that is what it means to be in union with Christ––we are His children, He loves us and He is pleased. No matter who else rejects us, no matter who else does not love us and no matter who else is displeased with us, if we are in Christ and walk humbly with Him, God tells us, “You are My son, My daughter. I love you and I am pleased with you.”  

Prayer: Father God, thank You that in Christ I am Your child, You love me and You are pleased. I love You with all my heart and I belong to You. Amen!