The Father's Affirmation

I imagine you're familiar with the account of Jesus' baptism. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are together in physical form for all to witness, maybe for the first time in history. Jesus is baptised, the Holy Spirit descends as a dove and the Father speaks:

Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:10-11 NIV)

This is a very personal word of affirmation which the Father speaks over his Son. In Matthew’s account it is a declaration about Jesus to the people listening and watching (“You are my Son….). Mark has chosen to record it as a personal and intimate declaration of a Father affirming his son simply for who he is.

The Father affirms Jesus’ identity as a son, he affirms his love for him and finally he affirms the pleasure and delight his son brings him. It’s a deeply personal affirmation. After his baptism, Jesus was led into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan.

You may feel like you’re in the wilderness, you may be facing many different struggles and it is in those struggles that you, too, can hear the Father say: “you are my son, you are my daughter, I love you, I delight in you”. These are words we all need to hear on a regular basis. Why not ask the Father to say them to you today!