Cuddled By God

# 223 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 1:11 “Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

These words were not spoken for Jesus’ benefit. They were spoken for the gathered witnesses. Remember, this gospel of Mark is taken from the eyewitness account of Peter, and this pronouncement by God had a profound effect on him. When Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was, Peter blurted out, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” How was that information relayed to Peter? Perhaps at this very moment. It’s one of those things he never forgot.

Let’s not skip over the word “beloved” here either. It is the strongest possible language for love between a parent and a child. It's a “hold you in my arms and embrace you,” kind of love.

Whereas God so loved the world that He sent Jesus, He could not regard the world as beloved to the point of pressing it against His chest, simply because the world is sinful. God is holy and has nothing to do with sin.
But Jesus is His beloved sinless Son and he loves Him with a pressing to the flesh cuddly kind of love. Perhaps you’ve seen the picture of Christ cuddling a lamb in a similar fashion. Now, here's the Good News!

When we receive Christ, are sins are forgiven and we are able to be cuddled by God in like manner. Oh what a precious thought....we are held beloved by God the Father! As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, cherish that thought and live in that reality today!

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.