The heart of God. That’s what jumped off the page this morning. And in a kind of unexpected place.

Book of the Bible? Jeremiah. Chapter in this prophet’s oracles? Twelve. Context for his words? God’s judgment of His people. Impact on this guy? To quote Crowder, “Oh, how He loves us.”

“I have forsaken My house; I have abandoned My heritage; I have given the beloved of My soul into the hands of her enemies.”

(Jeremiah 12:7 ESV)

The beloved of My soul . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

The beloved of God’s soul. Synonymous with God’s heritage, synonymous with God’s house . . . aka, God’s people.

Not just beloved, but “dearly beloved” (NKJV). More than just one of many things loved, but “the love of My life” (CSB).

If God is love — and He is (1Jn. 4:16) — then what it is it to be the beloved of God’s soul? What is it to occupy such a place within the heart of the Fountainhead of affection?

Independent of our best days and unconnected to our worst, impossible for Him to love us anymore and unthinkable that He would love us any less. For, whether it’s knowing the blessings of His goodness or the severity of His discipline, we are the beloved of His soul.

Because of who we are? Because of what we’ve done (or not done)? Nope! But only and always because of our union with Christ, because we are “in Christ” — God’s beloved Son, the One with whom God is “well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

Oh, how the Father loves the Son!

Oh, how He loves us!

According to His grace. Always for His glory.