15th January - Beloved Before Performance

Reading: Mark 1:9-11; Romans 8:14-17

Devotional: "This is my beloved, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus stood dripping wet, bedraggled, feet covered in mud, having done nothing but submit. He hadn't healed anyone or fed thousands. God's approval was 100% based on who Jesus was, not what he'd done. We live in the most curated generation in history, conditioned to believe love and belonging are prizes for winning. We feel God loves us more on good days than bad ones. But God's pleasure comes first. If you were stripped of your job title, fitness level, and followers, would you still know you're beloved? Your worth isn't fluctuating currency based on moral consistency. In Christ, the Father's delight already rests on you.