Pastor’s Corner “The Father’s Affirmation”

At one point in my life, I realized that my default spiritual setting was assuming our heavenly Father is disappointed in me. In my reading of Scripture and in my prayer times, I began with the assumption that Jesus wanted to show me where I was wrong and in need of change. The Holy Spirit, advocate and guide, has steadily and gently recalibrated that setting and challenged that assumption. He keeps returning me to these Holy Scriptures:

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when Jesus came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11)

“You were buried with Jesus in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses…, God made alive together with him, having forgiven all our trespasses, canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:12-13)

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:14-15)

In Jesus, my default spiritual setting is now confidence that my Father is well pleased with me. What waits for me in Scripture and prayer is not condemnation, but Jesus’ rescuing, renewing love, and the gift of his Spirit forming me into his likeness (Romans 8:26-29, 37-39).

As one who has been buried with Jesus in baptism, I rise with him every day to hear the Father’s first words to me: “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”

In Jesus, those are his words to you as well.

Your Pastor in Christ,