| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “The end of anxiety and despair” Our Bible verse for today: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued to extend faithful love to you.” Jeremiah 31:3 (CSB) Our thought for today: “You are one of God’s favorites” I love the easy and relaxed atmosphere we have at Oak Hill Baptist Church. We’re a small, multi-generational family church on the edge of town. Go much further past us and you’re into farm land, rural settings, and a wildlife reserve. We’re more country than not. We’re also very comfortable with each other, and that often leads to a lot of joking, kidding, and lighthearted banter. I remember one such occasion when a few friends were playfully teasing each other and one of the ladies looked at the others and with a little grin and a twinkle in her eye she said, “You’d better be careful. I’m one of God’s favorites.” Then she chuckled and so did everyone else. But it’s true. She is one of God’s favorites – and she knows it. Not only does God love her (as we discussed yesterday), but He also likes her. And that’s true of you, me, and every other person who belongs to Him as well. Listen to the heart of the Father in Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Those words were spoken first and specifically about the nation of Israel, but I believe they express the Father’s heart towards all of His children. In fact, in my Bible the superscript above the passage reads, “God’s relationship with His people”. “His people” were the Jews back then but it also includes you and I today. God loves you with an everlasting love. The Apostle John captured this truth in 1 John 3:1 where he reminds us, “See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children – and we are!” The Apostle Paul stressed the Father/child intimacy of this relationship when he wrote in Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba,” Father!” “Abba” means “Daddy”. It’s a term of endearment and comfortable intimacy between a father and a child. This understanding is so important to God that He had Paul remind us of it again in Galatians 4:6, “And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba,” Father! My friend, you need to know that you are one of God’s favorites. You make Him smile. You warm His heart, and that should make you feel pretty good about yourself. You are very special to God. You’re one of His favorites. I hope you find rest and peace in that great truth today. God bless, Pastor Jim |
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