Mark 1:11 – And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 11:11-13 – “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
We all have done things we regret. Sometimes they were things not so deep and not so harmful. Other times, some of us, have, by our sin, cut ourselves deep to the core. For some, even lamenting the day we were born. Times when we honestly considered our lives worthless and invaluable. I don’t know about you, but I have. I still have times of deep mourning when I wished I had not done, or been, what I had, what I was, and even I still am (though not what I was).
When I was at one of my very lowest points (one of many lows in my stumbling and bumbling life) my parents had come to talk to me. To be with me. To give me the comfort of their love. I was thankful they were there, but I was broken and just not feeling worthy of anyone loving or caring about me. As they were leaving, my Dad turned and hugged me and told me to read a scripture, Mark 1:11. So as soon as he left I hurried to my Bible and read the message that he wanted me to know “…You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” I cried. I wailed. How could He love me and be pleased with me and even use such a sacred verse to tell me so? I was so angry with myself and embarrassed. Yet my Dad gave me this powerful message. My Dad, my Daddy, loved me though I thought myself so unlovable. Not only did He still love me, but He was pleased with me. Pleased that I was his son and in who I was. Me, pleased with me? I cried out to the Lord, who I knew loved me even more, “Oh Lord, I know you love me, but you’re God. How could my Dad still love me and be pleased with me?” But he was. Mind-blowing! Me still loveable and pleasing?
How could he, because he was my Dad and He always loved me. Oh, he knew when I did wrong, but always He loved me, hoped the best for me, and supported me. I didn’t deserve that, but deserving had nothing to do with it, it was freely, generously and always given to me.
As my Dad always loved and rooted for me, he prepared me to understand how greatly God loves me. Family, no matter what, God calls all who belong to Jesus His own and His love and support for us is continuous and eternal. I’m thankful to my Dad for giving me a hint of how greatly God has loved us. What a gift from my Dad. What a gift from our Father God, the Lord God Almighty. How blessed we are to be so greatly loved by God. Praise God! Yes, always, praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”