Blessed In The Beloved

Luke 3:22 (ESV) and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Paul says this in regards to our adoption:

Ephesians 1:6 (ESV) to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

The Father expressed His love for the Son before the Son did anything in terms of public ministry.  Of course, the Father and Son and Spirit have all enjoyed loving fellowship with one another from eternity to eternity.  But this voice was for the benefit of those who were there.  It is for the benefit of we who read from Luke's Gospel as well.  We get a peak into the relationship of Father, Son and Spirit.  A relationship where each member unconditionally loves and takes pleasure in the others.  This is the relationship we are called to partake of as the people of Jesus' family.

It is no mistake that Luke goes right into the genealogical lineage of Jesus back to Adam right after this moment.  Where Matthew begins with Abraham and descends to Christ, Luke works backward from Christ and leads to Adam.  There's something happening here.  

Christ will be the end of the physical limitations of the family of God.  His lineage ends with Him as He never married or bore children.  But now in Christ, all the nations make up a family that can share in the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

This is why you can meet someone in another country who belongs to Christ and share immediate familiarity.  Even if you come from totally different backgrounds.  What a beautiful thing we share in Christ. 

I can remember selling a car to a person who was from another country and knowing we both followed Christ made us quickly strike up a deeper conversation.  This is the beauty of the fellowship we inherit from the Godhead through the Son.  

Its not to suggest that our fellowship is perfect.  But it is to reminds us that we belong to the blessing of the Beloved!

PRAYER:

Father, help us, your people love one another.  We are your Children and we are so blessed.  May your church rise up in fellowship and community.  May we grow in grace and love and compassion one for another.  May this begin right here, with me.