Eight pairs of eyes observed for three days one precious little girl with big blue captivating eyes. Each owner of a pair of eyes desired the attention of the lovable blue-eyed child. They coveted her love as much as they yearned to convey their love to her. Devoted parents, delighted grandparents, doting great-grandparents, and an adoring aunt all showered their love on the cuddly toddler. The wonderful weekend overflowed with deep affection for one another, spilling onto the human tie that bound everyone together.
Our family weekend with my granddaughter, Anabelle, embraced love. Even though everyone shared love and enjoyed being together, the focused fondness was directed toward Anabelle. She knew her family adored her and she returned the affection. The expressive love radiated throughout our home. Could love be communicated any more than that?
When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, all eyes were on Him. The Spirit of God descended from heaven in the form of a dove and alighted upon Jesus. A loving voice extended to earth from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Read of Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:13-17.)
John baptized the believing remnant of Israel and Jesus joined with them, confirming John’s ministry and fulfilling His Father’s will. It was a plan that God had set in motion after Adam and Eve sinned against Him. Jesus came to earth to execute that plan, trusting and obeying the will of His Father. Love emitted brightly and loudly from heaven to earth upon Jesus. The eyes of Father God beamed with so much love for His Son that all those at the Jordan River heard and felt the affectionate exchange.
As much as we love our families, God loves us more. We are His beloved children and He covets our love as much as He yearns to convey His love to us. The proof of His love rests in the life, death, and resurrection of His beloved son Jesus. He is our example of how we are to love God and His people. Jesus is the tie that binds us together as one loving family.
During the baptism, God declared strongly how much Jesus meant to Him. That beloved Son was then led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Read of Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4:1-11.) Jesus passed this period of testing by staying committed to the LOVE that enveloped Him. Nothing Satan did or said took Jesus’ focus off of His Father. Jesus knew God’s eyes were upon Him and, even though He hungered after forty days and nights of fasting, the love of His Father strengthened Him.
Do you feel the Father’s love? Do you know you are His beloved? Did you know you are the apple of His eye (Did you know that the apple of His eye refers to the pupil and that He protects and cares for you just as we try to protect and care for the pupil of our eyes?) Did you know His eyes are upon you and He is watching over you? Are you committed to that kind of love? Are you standing firm in the love of God expressed through His son Jesus? Are you armored up and resolved in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ? Read the Word of God, believing in His love, and when temptation comes, keep your eyes focused on Him so that your answer to all those questions will be “YES” and God will strengthen you!
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:1-2 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16 (NKJV)
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 (NKJV)
For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me. Zechariah 2:8-9 (NKJV)
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)
YES!