Charitoo – it’s a simple word. In fact its so rarely used in the Bible that it only turns up in two places. If you marry it with its Hebrew counterpart – chamad – as used in Dan 10:19 you get the full impact.

Sometimes when I’m reading the Bible I find myself skimming over “words” and “thoughts” that the Holy Spirit has given us that, in themselves, speak volumes. I found that to be true in reading through Chapter 10 of Daniel this morning.

Dan 10:19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. KJV

Here we have the great messenger angel, Gabriel, coming to Daniel with an answer to his prayer, and the first word out of his mouth is “greatly beloved” (chamad). Before Gabriel tells him anything regarding his long fast and earnest prayers, he tells him that he is “greatly beloved” by the Father. Think about that. What was more important to God than answering his prayer was to first tell him how He sees him: beautiful, greatly beloved, coveted, delectable, greatly desirable. Can you imagine if God were to send an angel to you with that message?

Well He has!

Consider the first time Gabriel delivered that message in the New Testament:

Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. KJV

The first word out of Gabriel’s mouth was charitoo; indued with special honor, made acceptable, highly honored. Directly from the lips of God to two very special people; Daniel and Mary. But that’s just it, right? They were very special and so God singled them out. True, but we need to understand “special” from God’s perspective.

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

That puts a different perspective on it! God sees us the same way He saw Daniel and Mary. Why? Look at verse 5:

Eph 1:5-6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, KJV

We are charitoo because it was His perfect will to make us that way. Look back at verse 4:

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: KJV

Why are we “dearly beloved?”

Because that’s the way God made us, the way He chose us. He doesn’t see us in our present sinful state. He sees us as we truly are in Jesus; holy and with out blame… “charitoo.” And here’s the most exciting part! He didn’t send Gabriel to tell us!

No… God sent His only Son to deliver the message in His birth, death, and resurrection that in His eyes we are indued with special honor, made acceptable, highly honored. In His eyes, the eyes that view us through His Son, we are truly… Greatly Beloved. 

Remember that today when things take a wrong turn or when you are sailing along. It matters not what our circumstances are. To the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we are first, foremost, and always Charitoo!