One thing the Christmas story teaches is that God loves us extravagantly, unconditionally.

Yet, the love story between God and humanity goes back farther than the first Christmas – it began before creation and was reinforced when God looked at what he created and “found it very good” [Genesis 1:31].

Made in the image of God [John 1:13], the climax of God’s creative activity [Genesis 1:26-27], God said: “’Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’… God created man in his image; in the Divine Image he created him; male and female he created them. God BLESSED them saying: ‘Be fertile and multiply’…” [1:26-28].

We are called by God into a life of freedom with original blessing. Original God-like divine image, original blessing, original joy. “God looked at everything he had made and found it very good’ [1:31].

You are God’s idea, God’s child. The image of God can be seen in every newborn baby. I have a vivid memory of holding a granddaughter in my arms on the day of her birth, of gazing deeply into her beautiful dark eyes. It was like looking into a deep well and being drawn even more deeply. Later, I blurted excitedly to my wife, “I just looked into the eyes of God! It was so beautiful.”

Because God has cre­ated us in God’s own image, there’s a picture of God, a treasure of God, in each of us. When we see Jesus, we see God. When we see each other, we see a reflection of God.

Created in God’s image, and animated by the Spirit, all human beings uniquely reflect their divine origin and the mystery of God’s presence in their being. The seal of the divine can never be obliterated [Being Human – Made in the Image of God].

Why, then, is this love of God for me so often hard to accept?

I am a sinful man. I struggle with temptation, and it seems I so readily fall, no matter how good my intentions are! Thus, I don’t always feel like a beloved child of God. I experience strong emotions, including self-rejection and self-loathing.

Yet, in those times when I sink to the depths of feeling I am not worthy of being loved, I pause, go to the centre of my being, my heart, and contemplate that the Almighty, all-powerful God came to earth as a helpless baby, fully human, to save and redeem me and all humanity. Through his own humanity, life, death, resurrection, we are eternally saved. Although we are not worthy, we have been made worthy by the blood of the Lamb. Our sins are washed away. We are forgiven, we are redeemed, and we are loved beyond measure by the ‘Word made flesh’, who dwells among us still.

Author and spiritual teacher Henri Nouwen says being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence: “We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children and friends loved or wounded us. That’s the truth of our lives. That’s the truth I want you to claim for yourself. That’s the truth spoken by the voice that says, “You are my Beloved.”

Listening to that voice with great inner attentiveness, I hear at my center words that say: “I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst. I will not hide my face from you. You know me as your own as I know you as my own. You belong to me. I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover and your spouse . . . yes, even your child . . . wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one.” [Henri Nouwen – Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World].

Isn’t that powerful? Do you believe it?

As a spiritual practice look in the mirror each day and say: “I am Beloved.” Claim your true identity as beloved daughter or son of a personal Creator. Believe it!

Have a golden day and treasure life!