A couple of nights ago in family devotions, we got on the subject of God delighting in us. That morning I had been reading Psalm 41 and verse 11 had stuck out to me:
Dad mentioned that one of the biggest struggles for him in recognizing God's delight in him is that he thinks there is nothing to delight in. That is one of the main stumbling blocks for most people. We wonder why God would delight in us? We're sick, sinful creatures. But then my brother brought up an excellent point. He said that God does not delight in us, in ourselves, but in His work through us. God does not delight in sin, but in sanctification, as He makes us more holy, setting us apart for Himself.
So what are the implications of God delighting in us? Well first, we must delight in God. At least twenty times throughout the Scriptures, people speak of delighting in God, in His law and in His commands. And then we must rejoice in the fact that the mighty God of heaven and earth, the Creator of the universe, the Lord of lords, and King of kings delights in us, His creatures! And finally, we should live our lives with a different attitude in everything we do, because we have a delightful God, a God who looks upon us with delight.
"By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me."The "you delight in me," which David was saying to God, really interested me. So during devotions we discussed what it means to have God delight in us. There are numerous other references to this incredible fact throughout Scripture (e.g. Psalm 35:27; Proverbs 11:20; Proverbs 12:22; Isaiah 62:4). But, as we questioned and reasoned in devotions, how does that work and what are the implications of it?
Dad mentioned that one of the biggest struggles for him in recognizing God's delight in him is that he thinks there is nothing to delight in. That is one of the main stumbling blocks for most people. We wonder why God would delight in us? We're sick, sinful creatures. But then my brother brought up an excellent point. He said that God does not delight in us, in ourselves, but in His work through us. God does not delight in sin, but in sanctification, as He makes us more holy, setting us apart for Himself.
So what are the implications of God delighting in us? Well first, we must delight in God. At least twenty times throughout the Scriptures, people speak of delighting in God, in His law and in His commands. And then we must rejoice in the fact that the mighty God of heaven and earth, the Creator of the universe, the Lord of lords, and King of kings delights in us, His creatures! And finally, we should live our lives with a different attitude in everything we do, because we have a delightful God, a God who looks upon us with delight.