Beautiful Word Devotional #90

A voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:11

In the wilderness of Judea, John the Baptist was “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (v. 4). So of course he hesitated when Jesus, the sinless One, approached. Jesus didn’t need to be baptized, yet he insisted: he wanted to identify in every way with the human beings he would die for.

As Jesus arose from the water, everyone heard, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Here, even before Jesus’ ministry began, God affirmed his love for his Son. Already God was pleased with Jesus—pleased undoubtedly with his heart of service and sacrificial love.

Too many people today long to hear from their earthly father the words Jesus heard at his baptism. Maybe you’re one of them. Maybe you have been living with that heartache, exhausting yourself trying to earn approval. Receive, then, the gift of God the Father’s love for you, his adopted child (see 1 John 3:1), and trust its healing power.

Lord, help me receive your Father’s love for me. Please heal wounds caused by my earthly father, amen.