Beloved One
(My newest recording “Living Oaks” is now available! The next few weeks I will be sharing stories about songs on this recording. To find out more or order the recording go to http://chrisatkins.net/music. Thanks!)
We live in harsh times where loveless words fly and sometimes hit us like a bitter wind. Some of us grew up in a family or value system where our worth was tied to how good or poorly we performed, what we looked like, or how we fit in. All of us have had times when we missed the mark in life or got derailed by our actions, or someone else’s bad choices. Compounding this is the fact that we have an invisible, spiritual enemy that wants to paralyze us by continually reminding us of past mistakes or sins. The result is that we can feel forever unloved or even unlovable.
Enter God, who wants to redefine and rebuild us. There is a word in theBible that I want to re-introduce to you. It is a word that perfectly describeshow God sees you, regardless of where you are today, how you feel aboutyourself, how others view you, or what you have or haven’t accomplished inlife.
The word is “Beloved.”
You, my friend, are God’s beloved.
The simple dictionary definition of the word ‘beloved’ is this: greatlyloved.
You are greatly loved! lI know it may be incredibly hard to see or believe this, and I understand that some terrible things may have happened that make that word sound like a fairy tale. But there is a hidden, untapped treasure awaiting you in this reality: God greatly loves you. When we soak in this reality, over time, it can redefine and rejuvenate our life and being.
God calls you his beloved child. Jesus Christ is the proof and sourceof God’s love for you.
There is a choice before each of us: push away and reject this fact, orallow God into our heart, life, and circumstance and let Him demonstrate howgreatly He loves us. The Bible is richwith passages that unveil and amplify the reality of how greatly God loves eachof us. Here are just a few:
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1)
“I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.” (Song of Songs 7:10)
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders" (Deuteronomy 33:12)
When my wife Terese and I were in the car discussing songs for the newCD “Living Oaks” she brought up the song “Beloved One.” Our friend ChelseaKimball had sung it before, but Terese felt the song had a beautiful andimportant message that needed to be heard. So I went back into the studio andre-tooled the song as a duet. Since then, many people have told me how muchthis song means to them.
I invite you to listen to this song as you read some Bible passagesabout God’s love for you. Let the Holy Presence of God fill you and bringhealing, comfort, and new direction. Remember that God’s love for you and me is not predicated on what wehave done or not done. It is not conditional, but it is life and eternitychanging.
Allow God to remind you that you are His beloved, and He longs to be yourBeloved One.
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” (Song of Songs 6:3)
God bless you!
Chris Atkins