64. Called Beloved
Romans 9:25b [I will call…] her beloved, which was not beloved.
Jesus Christ has made the difference between my being “not beloved” and “beloved.” Once I was not beloved, but now because of Christ I am beloved. Indeed: “My Beloved is mine, and I am his.” [Song of Songs 2:16]. “I am my Beloved’s, and his desire is for me.” [Song of Songs 7:10]. I am the “her” who is called the beloved of the Lord. The terminology implies a loving and caring marriage relationship. We are (and I am) the Bride of Christ. The relationship metaphor of marriage implies intimate love. I am not just a sheep of the Shepherd or a child of God; I am a Bride. I am a person who is cherished and loved.
Honestly it must be admitted that I was born “not beloved” because I was born in sin, original sin that separates me from God and makes me His enemy. But though I was not beloved by Him God still loved me; He found a way, the only way, to reconcile me to Himself and love me truly. He calls me His beloved, and so I am. It is hard to fathom how far we have come: from not beloved to beloved. Jesus Christ radically reversed our relationship to God. We have gone from depths to heights, from outside to included, from enemies to friends, from estranged to intimate, and indeed from death to life.
There may be no other feeling in life that is as strong or as important as being loved. The need and the desire to be loved and cherished runs deep in the heart of every human being. The need for love is a powerful motivation for much of our human behavior and relational interactions, and especially is this true for the most vulnerable. I am weak and vulnerable and I need this promise to know that my deepest need has been fully satisfied; and even more, His love overflows. This is the message of the Gospel: God loves you and calls you beloved.