The Story:

Before Jesus had even begun His first day of public ministry, the Father called Him "Beloved One." He declared His love over His Son before anything could be used to measure productivity. And so the Father does with each one of us. He calls us to Himself in His love before we can produce, perform, or do anything in His name.

There seems to be this emphasis in the church on what we can do for God. We praise public ministry and jump to what can be seen, yet forget that even Christ remained in hidden, faithful obedience before ever stepping into public anointing. Often, we miss the power of what God is doing in hiddenness because we allow performance and production to measure faithfulness and value. But I've come to learn that what we view and despise as insignificant in the world, God values and treasures greatly.

And with so much focus on ourselves pouring out, few of us have wrestled closely enough with God to learn how to receive His love rightly. Few of us have sat close enough with the Lord to allow His love to fully search and know us. Few of us have sat still enough to hear the knock at our door that beckons our hearts as we seek ministry more than we seek Him.

What I see now is a church filled with children who do not know their Father truly loves them. I see people crying out to be sent, to be used, to be called, but God is so good that before He sends us, He desires to teach us His unfailing love, which can only be revealed in fullness through the Holy Spirit.

So this painting stands as a reminder to my heart and to those who pass by that God's anointing Spirit first declares the love of the Father for His child, a love that pursues us all the days of our lives. He is not in a hurry with our lives, the assignments, or the good works He has prepared. The ultimate call of our hearts is into the loving arms of the Father. 

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Designed to be both meaningful and timeless, it fits naturally into calm, neutral spaces.

Materials:

Professional acrylic paint

Professional oil pastels

Professional acrylic gel medium

1.5" gallery-depth birch wood panel

Three coats of professional archival varnish