What does the Bible say about God's esteem for His people?

In Psalm 48, God expresses His high esteem for His people by calling them the 'joy of the whole earth' and 'beautiful for situation.' This conveys that the church and its members, who are saved by grace, are viewed with a conspicuous honor by God. The psalm highlights that this beauty and joy stem from their relationship with Him, as He has elevated them through Christ’s redemptive work. As believers, we are reminded that our standing before God is not based on our merits but solely on the grace of God manifest in Christ, which grants us a significant place in His kingdom.