Curtain Call!...Now Begin!

Imagine this: you are attending a concert and the show is about to begin.  But before one note is even played, or one line of the script is even read, every performer stands on stage in front of the audience and takes a bow. The crowd stands to their feet as they clap and whistle with great enthusiasm. The applause lasts so long that the audience must be prompted to stop. Then, they dim the lights, and the show begins. 

It's not the traditional way of doing things when running a performance. It's backwards, actually. Usually, praise comes AFTER a job well done. But this was pretty much the scene when Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized. Let's recall it:

One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” (Mark 1:9-11 NLT)

Did you catch that? The Father's words were, "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”  Other translations say it like this: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (NIV) Now try to imagine Him saying it the way a proud parent would say it before a school concert: "That's my kid right there!  I'm SO proud of him! Wow! Look at him. He is really somethin'!" 

There is so much Joy in the Father's Voice, so much approval. He is a proud Papa! And the kicker is, Jesus hasn't even officially begun His ministry yet. His 'show' hasn't even started. What is happening is the Father is applauding His Son before He even does one thing!

And God feels the same way about us. Listen, God is thrilled to be your Father and thrilled about you before you do even one lick of service with Him. Because He loves you with the same Love He loves His Son, He does not wait to applaud you either. He is SO proud to be called your Daddy. He is SO proud of who you are in Him and that you have received His invitation into relationship with Him. 

Now. Picture yourself standing before God. What do you feel right now? Shame? Unworthiness? Fear? Condemnation?  If you do, then let me encourage you to tell those voices to hush up, because they might cause you to miss it. They might be drowning out the Applause and true Voice of your Father and what He is really saying: "You are my dearly loved son.  You are my dearly loved daughter. And you bring Me great joy!!!"

Can you hear His applause? Can you hear the laughter in His Voice as He speaks it over you? 

It's an old cliché, but I want you to hear it in a fresh way today:

SMILE.  GOD LOVES YOU.

Smile at the fact that your name is written in the Book of Life. Smile at the fact that YOU didn't do ANYTHING to deserve such a lavish Love. Smile at the fact that you are no longer under the weight of darkness. Smile simply because your Father has picked you up out of the mud, rinsed you off, put you back on your feet and put you in right relationship with Himself. Smile because He applauds you, even before your 'show' begins!