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parental pride

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

Last night we had the Gravitate study at our home with about fifteen 20-somethings in attendance. Great cookout & then discussion on Matthew 3 & 4. The passage above struck me in a new way.

It's wonderful to hear parents speaking this way of their children. It's part of our love for them, and we see it at the soccer field or recital: "that's my son and I'm so proud of him" ...or, "that's my daughter, isn't she fantastic?" But, it's so... human. We are accustomed to people speaking this way. But God?

If we were to make up the gospel story, would we think to put in such a thing... that God the Father -- and on more than one occasion -- should speak directly and verbally from heaven (not through angels or prophets), saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Would we think this is something God would do?

It is something that only a loving Dad would do... and yet the Almighty God, the eternal Creator and Sustainer of all, that he should speak this way! Simply amazing! It tells us what a wonderful Father God is, and what a surpassingly excellent Savior we have.

A postscript... I must ask myself regularly: do I so delight in the Son? Am I well-pleased with him? Do I trust his Sacrifice alone, do I believe his word, do I obey? Do I clearly speak out -- like the Father -- this is God's Son with whom I am well pleased?
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