Do You Love Me? - Tuesday June 23, 2015
And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1:11 NIV
Jesus was just beginning His public ministry and what better way to do it than by being obedient to His Heavenly Father in baptism? As He came up out of the water, the heavens split and a dove descended, representing the Holy Spirit, and the Father's voice sounded loud and clear.
If you think about what the Father's message to Jesus was, it basically addressed two very important questions that every child desperately wants answered: one, "Do you love me?" and two, "Are you pleased with me?" With this strong affirmation from His Father, Jesus was armed to do battle for truth and righteousness in the days ahead.
I like this example. What a great message that we can take to heart for all of our close relationships. As a parent, I know that I have so often focused on the weaknesses and needs of my kids, wanting to train and strengthen them in becoming better people. But as I focus my lens, do I also look for the positive, good things that my kids are doing? (This applies not only to young children, but to grown-up kids as well!)
A good friend of mine used to often repeat, "Catch your kids doing right!" As I make efforts to notice the good qualities and actions and praise my kids for them, they will respond with delight. My smiles, my "cheers," my affirmations will reassure them that yes, Mom loves me, and she is pleased with me. Telling kids they are loved and delighted in builds secure relationships. And how about communicating one last idea borrowed from our Heavenly Father: "I'm so glad you're mine!"
Submitted by:
Dawn Bovenmyer
Stonebrook Community Church
Ames, Iowa
One-Year Reading Plan:
2 Kings 4:18-5:27
Acts 15:1-35
Psalms 141:1-10
Proverbs 17:23
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCB-ES: Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible B) The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from the Holy, Bible, New International Version, copyright B) 1973, 1978, 1984 by InternaB-tional Bible Society; (NKJV) are from New King James Version B) 1982 by Thomas Nelson; (NLT) are from the New Living Translation, B) 1996, Tyndale House Publishers; (ESV) are from English Standard VersionB., B) 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers; (TM) are from The Message B) 1993 by NavPress Publishers.