Tuesday, November 10, 2015

“Beloved Son, Beloved Savior"



    One of the hallmarks of born again believers is that the Lord Jesus Christ is dear to us.  He is so because "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).  That which God loves becomes that which we love.  Just as the Father declares, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," so we declare, "This is My beloved Savior, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

    Of course, our experience and application regarding such love waxes and wanes depending on our response to the Holy Spirit's working in our hearts.  The Apostle Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that the Lord would "direct your hearts into the love of God", clearing confirming our need for ongoing ventures into our Heavenly Father's devotion to His Son (II Thessalonians 3:5).  Moreover, Jude commanded us to "keep yourselves in the love of God", revealing our privileged responsibility in a mutually devoted relationship and fellowship with the Lord (Jude 1:21).  Thus, we may know and respond to the dearness of the Lord Jesus in varying measures throughout our Christian lives.  The fact remains, however, that the Father's love for His Son abides within us through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  "I have declared unto them Thy name, that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them" (John 17:26).

    Boil a born again believer down to his or her essence, and the love of Christ and love for Christ will remain through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Thus, we must apply ourselves to the glorious and grace-given reality.  We must believe that such love dwells within us through the Holy Spirit.  We must seek God's direction thereunto.  And we must keep ourselves in the atmosphere and environment, as it were, of our Heavenly Father's primary purpose of exalting and revealing His beloved Son.  The world, the devil, and the flesh can gravely distract and divert us from the realization of such devotion, and our privileged response.  No greater tragedy could ensue in the life of a believer than to forget how dear the Son is to His Father, and how dear the Savior is to us.

"Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, It is written in the prophets, And they all shall be taught of God.  Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath been taught of the Father cometh unto Me" (John 6:43; 45).

 Weekly Memory Verse
    "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
(Psalm 46:1)

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