Wednesdays With Wes: 11-23-2022

Beloved, if God loves us” - I John 4:11 The lie is subtle, but oh, so destructive. And it is this: “My circumstances determine God’s heart towards me.” If we’re honest, I believe each one of us has bought into this lie at one time or another. I know I have. We believe that how our life is going is a direct reflection of how happy God is with us. This is especially so when things get difficult. But this is wrong, of course. As believers in Jesus we are living in enemy occupied territory. Satan is the “prince of this world” (John 12:31). We are living on a planet broken by sin. Things are not what they should be. Jesus Himself promised that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). To set our perspective right in hard life situations, we must fix our eyes on the truth of how God truly feels about us, always and forever. That truth is sprayed generously throughout Scripture and founded upon God’s outrageous desire to bring us to Himself through the saving death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. And when we come to Him through Christ and are born again, God lavishes on us a title that tells us everything we need to know about His heart towards us. He calls us His “beloved”. A term of deep affection and unending commitment. It is also translated, “dearly loved”. Not just for a day or for a week. Not only when we are living well and things in life seem good. This declares His heart for us - for you - eternally. For every second of every day, from this moment right here on through every moment into forever. You are His “beloved”. You are knitted to His heart and protected by His grace. And nothing and no one in this world can ever change that. Be grateful, be overwhelmed, and be at peace, for this is what is true of you. You are “beloved” by your Father, the King!