How important are your relationships to you? Most would probably say, "Very!" We tend to highly value our relationships with our spouses, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family, and friends. These are the people who are most special to us!
Thinking about the most important relationships in our lives helps to give us an understanding of how important we are to the Lord. It also helps to see the words Jesus used of those he delivered and saved. On the occasion Jesus healed Jairus' daughter and the woman with the issue of blood, he used words that highlighted one of the most important relationships known to us: the parent-child relationship. To the sick woman, Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace" (Luke 8:48, emphasis mine). And to the little girl who had died, Jesus said, "My child, get up!" (Luke 8:54, emphasis mine). If we look to Mark's recording of the same event, we see with even more clarity how Jesus highlighted this relationship. "He took her by the hand," Mark tells us, "and said to her, 'Talitha koum!' (which means 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!')" (Mark 5:41). Mark gives us the translation of the Aramaic word Talitha: "Little girl." But Talitha was also a common term of endearment, as if to say, "My sweetie."
That's how our Savior sees us, with eyes that are filled with love and endearment for those who belong to him, who have been redeemed and adopted as sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). It's one of the most beautiful aspects of the gospel, that we are so immensely loved and valued by God, that he calls us his "sweeties" and gives us the amazing privilege of calling him our "Daddy" (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).
This week, rejoice in knowing just how important you are to our gracious God. May it be a truth that comforts, encourages, and strengthens you to freely live as a worshipful member of God's household (Romans 12:1).
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