Why God Loves You

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened up and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. -Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)

Up until this point, we haven't heard much from Jesus. We're told of Gabriel's visit to Mary and his announcement that Jesus is the Son of the Most High God. We're told of Joseph and a very pregnant Mary making their way to Bethlehem for the census and how Jesus ends up being born in a barn. We're told how Joseph and Mary present Jesus in the Temple and how Simeon and Anna respond. We're told that, at the age of twelve, Jesus stays behind at the temple in Jerusalem to listen and ask questions of the religious leaders. But there is still much we don't know about Jesus' life. Outside of his Q&A in the temple, we know little about his life as a child, teen, or even young adult. The gospels focus mainly on the last three years of Jesus' life.

What stands out for me in this morning's suggested readings is that before Jesus begins his ministry, before his first miracle has even been recorded, before we know much at all about him, we hear God saying, "I love you. You are my son with whom I am well pleased." This love doesn't appear to be based on what Jesus has done (because he hasn't really done anything yet) but is based instead on who Jesus is (the Son of God).

I've got a feeling that someone reading this morning's devotional needs a little reminder. God loves you! And the wonderful thing about God's love is that it's not based on what you've done. It's based on who you are! You are a beautiful child of God. Now I believe that this love is meant to prompt us to do good deeds. I believe that God's desire is for us to love Him and seek to please Him because He first loved us. But his love at its core is based not on what you've done or not done but is based on who you are: His precious child!

May God grant you the grace to experience the love of God today that is grounded in who you are, not what you've done.

Tomorrow's readings: Daniel 7-8, Psalm 137, and Luke 4.