Holy and Beloved
This is part two of a many- part series focusing on Colossians 3:12-17. You can read part one, Chosen, here.
Now, the concept of being chosen by God is a pretty big deal. Everyone likes to be the one chosen. But today, let’s unwrap just a bit more of the passage.
Holy and Beloved
We are not just chosen by God. We are set apart, we are loved deeply.
My friends, this is a big deal.
Consider for a moment our children. Children are peculiar creatures. But they make great examples because they are unguarded and very honest with their emotions.
My children have chosen many toys. But not all of their toys have been beloved. As a matter of fact, a small percentage of their chosen toys have made it to beloved status. And the criteria for this status is beyond my comprehension. The toys that I think would most worthily deem beloved status due to their price, or size, or difficulty in procurement, often lie forgotten in the bottom of a toy box. Loved for a moment and cast aside. However, sometimes an odd, bedraggled hand-me-down stuffed bunny makes the cut.
Meet “Nunny”. This stuffed bunny was purchased nearly 11 years ago while I was pregnant with Owen. We wanted the new baby to have a “lovey” and I thought this stuffed bunny was sweet, and really snuggly soft as well. This bunny slept in the crib with Owen for his entire infancy. He never noticed it. We packed it away with baby things and never thought anything of it.
A few months ago the girls were exploring in the basement with their brothers and Emily came upon this bunny. . .and she and “Nunny” have been inseparable ever since. As you can see, Nunny is missing an ear, and sometimes stuffing comes out of his head. He is more grey than peach in color now, and has taken on the patina of toddler love. He hardly looks loveable.
And yet, he is beloved.
Emily loves Nunny not for anything he does. He is a low tech toy at its lowest. He is not valuable or collectable. He is missing an ear. He does not smell sweet. She just loves him because he is her Nunny and she chose him.
And so it is with God’s love. He chose us. We are not loveable. I am downright UNlovable. I am inpatient and unkind. I am not loving. And yet, God has set me apart (made me holy) and I am beloved.
The mere fact that God has set me apart in this way changes everything. I am to act differently. Next week we will dig into what the Apostle Paul writes that we should “put on” as God’s chosen people, who are holy and beloved. Think of it as “What to wear”! Check back next Monday!
