Beloved: Receiving The Love That Names You

Photo Credit: Kiefer Pix

(By Rachel T Joyce)

In Scripture, when God calls you beloved, what do you think He actually means? Did you know that beloved is how your heavenly Father describes you?

This word, which in the original text is agapētos (ἀγαπητός), is defined by Thayer as “beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love” (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament). 

It’s the word the Father pronounced over Jesus at His baptism as the Spirit descended in dove-like form. Mark explains, “Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Mark 1:11 NKJV).

We hear it again on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus met with Elijah and Moses while Peter, James, and John watched in amazement. Jesus’ clothing became white and glistening. “A bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’" (Matthew 17:5).

And we get it.

Yes, of course, the Father dearly loved His Son. He truly was and is worthy of love. It’s only natural that He would be the beloved of His Father. We understand why the Father treasures His Son — why He delights in Him, desires closeness with Him, and is committed to Him.

But us? That He would feel that way towards us? I have a much harder time believing that. 

How about you?

If we were to put this concept of being beloved into everyday English, it would be something like this: 
“You are the one I love deeply with all my heart. I have chosen and claimed you. You are worth more to me than you can possibly imagine or comprehend. You belong in my love.”

That, my friend, is your identity in Christ. You are God’s agapētos. And nothing and no one can ever change that.

The apostle John tells us, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). And Paul says,“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1 ESV). 

Perhaps one of the reasons we fail to cherish one another is because we haven’t grasped just how treasured we are by God. If we focused on Him and the truth He proclaims over us, His love would overflow from our hearts to all around us.

Jude, the brother of our Lord Jesus knew the importance of making our home in His love; he says: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 1:20-21a). 

Paul tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. So this isn’t about holding onto His love; it’s about living with an awakened awareness of what is already ours.

His love over us.

His love under us.

His love in us.

His love flowing through us.

To be God’s agapētos — His beloved — is not something we achieve. It is something we receive. The question is not whether God has named you beloved; He already has. The question is whether you will believe this truth and live fully as the beloved daughter you are.