This is not said of everyone in the Bible. The NASB translates, "greatly beloved," as, "man of high esteem." The Hebrew Interlinear defines the word as, "beauty," or, "take pleasure in, to desire." While everybody on Planet Earth is loved by God, from Adam to the most "lowly" person in the most remote part of the world today, Biblical Theology reveals that there are people who are those, "of high esteem," those who are a "pleasure" to God, those as Enoch, who, "pleased God."
American theology has been invaded by the same mentality popular in that portion of the culture today which does not allow youth athletic competitions to keep score. Everybody is the same, or, in other words, there is no reward for excellence. It is the same mentality which will never consider Bible passages that speak of degrees of rewards in the coming life (Mt. 10, 16, 25, to name a few). I know with many I'm on thin ice here, but maybe more Bible and less pop theology would be in order.
Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to love all people; Jesus tells us that to love is the greatest commandment (Mark 12:29-31), and 1 John tells us, "God is love." What I see in our text, however, is that while God supremely demonstrated His love for the world in Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Cross, there are some in His Creation in whom He takes "pleasure," people who are, "highly esteemed." But how can one be in that number? Psalm 51 gives insight to a "Daniel heart." David prays in verse 10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Our Lord Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure (literally, "clean") in heart, for they shall see God." This is a "Daniel heart"------------------ and, I shall always pray for such.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray to be one, "greatly beloved," by You, "highly esteemed," by You, one You can, "take pleasure in, desire." Amen.
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Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to love all people; Jesus tells us that to love is the greatest commandment (Mark 12:29-31), and 1 John tells us, "God is love." What I see in our text, however, is that while God supremely demonstrated His love for the world in Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Cross, there are some in His Creation in whom He takes "pleasure," people who are, "highly esteemed." But how can one be in that number? Psalm 51 gives insight to a "Daniel heart." David prays in verse 10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Our Lord Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure (literally, "clean") in heart, for they shall see God." This is a "Daniel heart"------------------ and, I shall always pray for such.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray to be one, "greatly beloved," by You, "highly esteemed," by You, one You can, "take pleasure in, desire." Amen.
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Politics, Israeli Style: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
