Are you beloved?
Beloved.
Not a word you hear very often. Recently this word has stuck out to me. Usually I gloss right over this word, “beloved.” It seems antiquated; I normally ignore it.
Now this word hits me, it stands out, I notice it. It almost interrupts me. Now when I hear or read it I feel like a small wrench has been thrown into the gear works and I'm compelled to notice it.
Why?
I spent the first half of Saturday in prayer and meditation. I am reading through the bible and came across "O Daniel, a man greatly beloved." Daniel 10:11
I don't remember what caused me to search, but I came across an old sermon from Charles Spurgeon. (Actually, I didn't find this sermon. I'm certain God caused the sermon to find me.) The only person I know that uses the word "beloved" is Paul Jensen, The Leadership Institute's Founder and President. Earlier this year Paul expressed his concern that we should have a better sense of what it means to be beloved of God. At the time I thought, "that sounds kind of elementary. I not sure I'm that attracted to digging deeper in this place. Seems kind of basic. I can't get excited about this."
Yup. That was my attitude - yawn - ho hum. Go through the motions.
But the word "beloved" has since stuck out - like a neon sign. There hasn't been anything significant about it, no deep insight, just that I would notice it often. It was like hitting a speed bump. There was nothing profound in this increased noticing, just a little thump when I passed over the word.
Until Saturday, that is...
In the most gentle way on Saturday, God and Spurgeon walked me down a path of what it means to be beloved. Sometimes timing is everything. And this is exactly what I needed. There is a progression to Spurgeon's sermon, a logical process, and I am eating it up. This is new, fresh, and I am still working through it, slowly, bit by bit.
Rather than explain or summarize anything from Spurgeon, I will let you discover it for yourself: Check out Sermon No. 2256 by C.H. Spurgeon by clicking on the link below.
Paul Jensen was absolutely right. It makes a huge difference when you understand what it means to be "beloved." To really understand - no, more than that, to feel beloved. I'm not there yet, but I can see it. When you know it - when you feel it, you will be different. If I can get my hands around this idea of being beloved, to really get it, I'm certain I will be forever changed.
And THAT is exciting to me.
Our belovedness in no ho hum matter.
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