Beloved

“Beloved.”

It’s every Christian’s identity.
It’s your name.

“Beloved” of God.

Simply, “one who is loved” by God
(As in Romans 1:7, “To all those in Rome
Who are loved by God ….”).

But not any sort of love.

Not philos, as sweet as friendship love is.
Not eros, as delightful as romantic love can be in marriage.

“Beloved” is rooted in agape—
Unconditional, unrelenting, covenantal love—
Like a father has for his only son,
Like a mother has for her newborn baby.

One beautiful word in Greek that names you—
“Agapetos.”

God loves the whole world.
His love has no bounds.
Yes, He loves everyone.
But He loves His children uniquely
And covenantally and passionately.

You are His agapetos—
The recipient of His bottomless agape love.

May you know yourself loved,
Beloved,
Know yourself loved.