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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Infinite Worth: Part 4: The Beloved

(http://afremov.com/image.php?type=P&id=19095)
A reflection of Beauty

Howdy! Hope ya'll are all doing well! Life is difficult, but God is good!

Guys I'm truly sorry it's been so long since last I wrote. There was a time when I was figuring things out, but a lot of it was just laziness, and that was unfair to all of you. But the past is the past, and I can't change that. So here I am, back in action! It's a new year, and we're going to kick it off with part 4 of our series.

So the first few parts have been about seeing others, and seeing God. Then we talked about who He was: The Lover.

And so we continue....
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The Beloved

Have you ever had an aching for something, deep down in your heart? An inexplicable ache which rises from the depth of your soul? An emptiness that, without being filled, makes one feel incomplete? It's the desire to be loved. And not just to be loved sometimes; not just for parts of you to be loved. It's the desire to be loved completely, fully, and totally, exactly as you are in this very moment. It is one of the basest needs of humanity, and yet one of the needs that we hardly ever talk about, and hardly ever see met.

Last time we talked about The Lover. The one who fulfills all needs, who loves us enough to die. But we already talked about this, so you know all that. But did you know that he has an ache too? 

God doesn't need us, but He created us anyways because He loves, and love creates. And in His goodness He made us. He made us as the height of His own creation, and in His image and likeness. Stop and think about that for a second. Not another thing in all of creation, from the birds to the galaxies was made like us, which is to say in His image. He shaped humans to be like Him. That alone gives us an insane amount of innate worth, regardless of how we feel! Why? Because God is the highest, and He chose to model us after Himself. We are reflections of the almighty. Honestly just writing that fills me with awe.

But that wasn't enough for Him. He didn't just make us and leave us be. He made us TO BE LOVED.  As a little kid in catechism class you are taught that people are here to know, love, and serve the Lord. But God wants to be there for us too! He wants to know us personally, love us personally, and help us to reach the fullness of happiness. What does that say about us that the God of the universe wants to get to know us personally? Not only us, but you. Yes you. The one reading this right now. He wants an individual, personal relationship with you. What does it say that the God of the universe, who can do anything and everything He wants at any time, wants to know about your personal life? He wants to know about your day, and the boy/girl that you like. He wants to know that you got really pissed off when you got cut off in traffic today and then you were late for class. He wants to know that you're really upset that you didn't get invited to the party. He wants to know what you think of your mom's new haircut. Etc. Etc. He wants to know you, the way your best friends would. He wants to be your best friend. 

Guys if that doesn't make it clear how infinitely important you are I don't know what will. The Lover chooses to spend time getting to know you. Not because He has to, but because He really, truly, loves you and wants a relationship with you. Beloved, your Lover is waiting for you.

God has an ache. He aches with love for you. Have you ever heard the song "Your Guardian Angel" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus? The opening line says "when I see your smile tears run down my face". That my friends is how much He loves you. He has tears of joy every time you smile. It makes him happy each time you joyfully laugh. He aches for you when your heart breaks, and longs for you when you turn away from Him. He is The Lover, and He's lovesick for you.

We are His Beloved. That, I think, is the simplest way of explaining why you matter. You matter because; God made you, and so you matter. You matter because He loves you. And His love for you is not dependent on your love for Him. Nothing any of us can say or do can ever make Him love us any less. That is why our worth can never change. No matter what mistakes we make, we are still worth more than the moon and the stars in His eyes because we are His beloved. We are made in His image and likeness and He loves us. That's why you matter. That's why you are important. Because there is someone who can fill that ache in your heart so that you never have to worry about it again. Because someone aches for you too. 

The Church, several times in the Bible and in other places, is referred to as Christ's bride. He literally laid down His love for us, as a husband and wife do for each other every day. This image perfectly capture exactly how we are loved, and exactly how Beloved we are.

Why are you of infinite worth? Because. I used to struggle with the answer, since it was so simple. But in the end, that is why I matter. It's why you matter. It's why anyone matters. Because. Because God says so. Then it doesn't matter how anyone puts you down, it doesn't matter what crud you go through in life. It doesn't matter what mistakes you make or vows you break. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of you. It doesn't even depend on what YOU think of yourself. You matter because God says so.

Why are we all of infinite worth? Because we are loved by an infinite lover.

Who are you? You are His Beloved child. That's all that matters.
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Deuteronomy 4:24 says "For the LORD, your God, is a consuming fire, a jealous God." He is jealous for you. You are His beloved and you matter. Let Him show you that.  

Today's song is "Beloved" by Tenth Avenue North. I really urge you to go listen to this song here. It really takes everything and puts it together.

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need 

And give me your life
The lust and the lies
And the past you're afraid I might see
You've been running away from me, yeah 

You're my beloved lover
I'm yours
And Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
My love it unites us and it binds you to me
It's a mystery 

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need 

I'm the giver of life
I'll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh, come running home to me, yeah

You're my beloved lover
I'm yours
And Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
My love it unites us and it binds you to me, yeah

You've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers that won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips and you'll taste new life

You're my beloved lover
I'm yours
And Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
My love it unites us and it binds you to me
It's a mystery

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That's it for part 4. Almost done!

Until next time, I'll see you guys!

Praying for you all,

~Wanted~