With You I Am Well Pleased!

Yesterday, my message touched on Jesus’ baptism, and God’s promising words, “This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased!”

In a recent sermon, Rev. King Duncan spoke about how he wished every child on earth could hear without equivocation from his or her parents: “You are my son, you are my daughter, whom I love; with you, I am well pleased.”

He said, “What a difference it would make in the world if every parent would affirm his or her child like that. I suspect we would see crime drop, delinquency drop, even terrorism disappear.  Can you imagine a world in which every child knew for certain that he or she was loved? Can you imagine a world where no young person felt the need to act out in destructive ways to gain parental attention or approval? At heart, this is the solution to the world’s deepest and most tragic problem, the emptiness and loneliness that drives people to despair: ‘You are my son, you are my daughter, whom I love; with you, I am well pleased.’”

This coming week, I challenge you to find one younger person – it doesn’t necessarily need to be your child – but one person in your life who could use a lift – and share your love, admiration, and approval of her or him.

Let us pray:  Holy God, we thank you for the acceptance and love we have received from friends and family over the years. And, we are ever grateful for the love we have received from you. Help us this week speak words of encouragement, approval, and love into the lives of people around us. May we be instruments of your grace, through Jesus Christ. Amen.