In the New Testament the word beloved mostly refers to a love of God toward his son, Jesus, to his people and a love between fellow Christ-followers. It is intimate, deep and unifying.
Matthew 3:17 might be the most familiar use of the word beloved, in all of the Scriptures:
“And a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with him I am well pleased.”
We read those words and yearn for them.
I believe it is part of our inherent human nature, I believe it is the magnetic force that draws us to our Father God.
CS Lewis has said,
“And this is the marvel of marvels, that he called me Beloved”
We seem to know, instinctively, we need to hear, to feel that in the eyes of God, we too are his beloved.
For some it is in our experience of being beloved of our earthly father that we come easily to understand how deeply loved we are by our heavenly Father.
For many others, it is the absence of being beloved by our human father (or mother) which pulls us away from God … for if our own flesh and blood reject us, how can the God of the universe call us his beloved?
Yet, he does. He does so in word and in deed. His declaration of pleasure with his son is the reminder to us of the sacrifice he made … for you and for me … that we should be called children of God … beloved children of God.
“And this is the marvel of marvels, that he called me Beloved”
“You called me (be)loved
You called me (be)loved
By the blood of the Lamb, of Your Son
Comes to me, sweet salvation”
itsawonderfilledlife 