I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.
This Week We're Looking at Beloved
Freed from her stroller, sturdily stomping past her brother and sister, she dodged the forest of legs in the hallway, pressing forward, seeking his face. Determined to get there as quickly as her toddler legs could run, she didn't care about the bevy of white coats surrounding the one whose shoes she knew. She wasn't concerned with decorum or manners, never thought about whispering or waiting for her turn. Instead, she burst forth, calling his name, "Daddy! Daddy!"
And his answer was always the same. A handclap followed by "come here, my girl!" Quickly, he scooped her up out of the hospital bustle's fracas, securing her in arms that juggled clipboards, phones, and a coffee cup. He welcomed her, listened carefully to her chirping, and then finished his orders for his team to carry out.
She was beloved. She never doubted, never wavered, never feared her reception. Intent on her goal, she sought the man who called her his daughter.
We are Beloved. But we often doubt. We hesitate at the beginning of the run, wondering if we're welcome, we fear His lack of attention, we may try running towards Him only to be distracted, we may fall down. We may be embarrassed by our desire in a place teeming with others with more significant needs or louder calls. We may hang back, wondering if we should wait for our turn. But we are Beloved. And we need to hurtle towards our Heavenly Father who establishes our identity, pulls us out of the fray, listens intently to our words and hearts, and welcomes us into His presence. We are Beloved. We are safe, surrounded, and covered when the world feels full of danger and uncertainty. God dwells with us (Deuteronomy 33:12), reminding us of His presence in moments of doubt and fear. He whispers His truth to our hearts when we wonder if we can persevere. We can rest. The child of the Most High rests secure in His arms, knowing He never lets go, never struggles to hold her safe. When we anxiously work, worrying about the results and consumed with the outcome, we have lost sight of our status as His Beloved. In Psalm 127:2, He invites us into a place of rest, where the work we do depends on His hand for results.
We are Beloved, a set-apart saint. He securely determined our identity at the cross and welcomed us into His arms. As His child, grace and peace flow with abundance, coating our weary, fraying hearts and reminding us of His steadfast love (Romans 1:7).
Our stance changes. In I Corinthians 15:58, Paul contends we stand resolute and steadfast in a world where everything seems to rush by, differing opinions clamor for attention, and nothing feels consistent. We can serve our families and neighbors, encouraged by the knowledge that His eyes are always on us. His hand is always steadying us. As His beloved, we can forgive. Colossians 3:13 shows us from the security of being fully forgiven, we can offer forgiveness. Compassion bursts forth. Our identity changes our response. The gift of being His, fully claimed, wholly loved, impacts how we love others. He calls us Beloved.
The ABCs of God's Love Letter Scripture Memory Cards
The ABCs of God's Love Letter Bible Study is accompanied by a collection of 25 5 X 5 Scripture Memory Cards. We'll utilize this great tool to help us memorize a Scripture verse once a week that goes with the topic we're studying that week. Hiding God's Word in our heart is so important!
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What does Beloved mean to you?
22 Comments
8/18/2020 09:13:33 am
I love Ephesians 1:6 about being "accepted in the beloved." That settled many issues for me when I "discovered" it as a young woman.
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8/18/2020 09:55:53 am
Yes, Barbara, "to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved" it is very reassuring and gives us much-needed Hope! Where would be be without His glorious grace?
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I loved the analogy of how in the natural a daughter that knows her daddy loves her doesn't hesitate to run to him when she sees him; so why can't we "hurtle" towards our Heavenly Father! (Loved your use of the word "hurtle," I've never considered it in conjunction with going to my Father, but why not? I should hurtle to the One who does everything for me!)
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8/18/2020 09:57:35 am
Me too, Jerralea! I love Bethany's writing style, and this beautiful analogy! Let's "hurtle" this week! 2020 demands it!!!
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8/18/2020 10:18:33 am
It is such a blessing to be reminded of the Beloved, AND that we are beloved by the Father as well! :)
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8/18/2020 11:38:07 am
I know I can't fully grasp what it means to be so beloved by the Father! But I want to keep trying to understand. :) It is the best.
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8/18/2020 01:43:44 pm
I believe the most beautiful description I've ever read, of really feeling like the "Beloved" that the Bible says I am, is how Bethany wrote it. "...the one whose shoes she knew. She wasn't concerned with decorum or manners, never thought about whispering or waiting for her turn. Instead, she burst forth, calling his name, "Daddy! Daddy!"
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8/18/2020 05:15:24 pm
Yes, Gale, it is, and the reminder is something I specifically needed this week. :)
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8/18/2020 06:40:56 pm
We will enjoy spending all of eternity leaning into the truth of God's great love for us!
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8/18/2020 06:44:39 pm
Yes, Michele! I think that is one of the many things we cannot even begin to comprehend.
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8/19/2020 09:07:38 am
I'm learning to embrace my identity as beloved. I'm embarrassed to say that as I have had people in my life who showed me that. But I also had a father who didn't. And that wound runs decades deep, even after healing and forgiveness. I'm so grateful for the grace of the people God has given me to keep showing me who I am.
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8/19/2020 10:31:30 am
That's a lovely testimony, Rebecca! I believe Satan loves to use the "father figures" in our lives to confuse us about what our Father God is really like. In an ideal world the father figure in our lives would be a perfect picture of our Father God calling us Beloved.
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8/19/2020 02:31:15 pm
Nothing makes me happier than meditating on being His beloved.
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8/20/2020 03:45:40 pm
Such a beautiful reminder of the steadfast love He has for each one of us! Thanks to Bethany for sharing—she is one amazing mom! 🤗 Stopping by from #tuneinthursday
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8/21/2020 09:44:15 am
Yes, it is a beautiful reminder, Laura. And Bethany has a lovely way of sharing this reminder! :)
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8/20/2020 08:11:15 pm
"The gift of being His, fully claimed, wholly loved, impacts how we love others. He calls us Beloved." I love this statement. Because we are His, how we live our life and love others is impacted in a glorious way. Love this study!
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8/21/2020 09:46:30 am
I love that statement too, Angela. It's a beautiful truth that holds us eternally accountable for loving others today.
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8/26/2020 07:29:36 pm
Beloved, THere's nothing better than knwoing we are His Beloved.
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1/11/2024 12:12:35 pm
Absolutely Mandy!! The assurance of being His Beloved is indeed a source of profound joy and comfort. Thank you for hosting the Legacy Linkup, and may the series continue to inspire and uplift many!
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