One of the most reassuring things that we can hear and know is that we are loved and not just loved but we are someone’s BELOVED. Isn’t that a beautiful word? BELOVED.
The GREEK word for beloved is ‘agapestos’ which means: ESTEEMED, DEAR, FAVOURITE, WORTHY OF LOVE. This word occurs most frequently in the book Song of Solomon which makes sense as the book is a portrayal in song of the love between a husband and wife. It also represents the relationship between Christ and the Church. ‘I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.’ (chapter 6:3)
This word BELOVED, conveys ACTION on the part of the one directing their love toward the other. We see an example of this at Jesus’ Baptism in MARK 1: 9-11:
“9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
God proclaimed (actioned) to His Son and all present that His Son, Jesus, was His beloved. He was saying to all present, this is my son – my dear one, my favourite, my highly favoured one. Another example of this actioning or directing of love that the word BELOVED conveys is found in 1 John 3:1 – 2:
“See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
The love God has for us, His creation, is the reason why we can be called, receive and walk in the title identity ‘CHILDREN of GOD’. God actioned His love toward us by giving us the opportunity to be related to Him, to be His children, His BELOVED.
In Isaiah (49:15-16), God’s love for His chosen people Israel is described as an action in this way:
“Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
16 Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;”
Nowadays, people get tattoos with their beloved’s likeness or name on some part of their body. God has your name inscribed on the palms of His Hands. Jesus does too but it’s in the form of 2 nail scars, one on each hand from where He willingly gave up His Life for you, His BELOVED.
As wonderful and delightful as this word is … BELOVED … there is a problem with it as well. Often times we don’t walk in the title or identity of it. WE DON’T EXPERIENCE IN FULL WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GOD’S BELOVED. This can be due to ignorance, forgetfulness or unbelief.
We are NOT ONLY meant to be known as BELOVED of God and to know the One who is bestowing that love upon us but are meant to also walk AS beloved children of God; meaning to navigate life anchored to and holding on to that truth, to the person of Christ. In a sense we need to be-LOVED-by-God. Actively believing and trusting in Christ. We prove that we believe we are His Beloved by believing Who He says He is and walking in that by faith and trust in Him. Just as He actioned toward us, we action toward Him. We allow all of Christ, in all of us, to do all He would be pleased to do as we walk in faith and trust in Him.
Beloved … BE-LOVED.
By: Elizabeth Joslin
