God Delights in Us.

I am often reminded, even haunted by that famous rejoinder by Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire. When his sister tries to convince him to give up running, give up competing in the Olympics, and come serve Christ in China. He promises that he will go to China (and he eventually does go), but for now, he says, “God made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure.” Do we feel God’s pleasure? Ever?

Do we sense God’s smile, even over little things. Yes, we may feel his frown, or a puzzled look, at times, when we knowingly act in selfish ways. But when we do the right thing, finish a job well done, say a kind word to someone, sing his praises—do we feel his pleasure?

Lately, as I continue to walk through the grieving process over the loss of my wife, I have struggled with low motivation to do the next thing. It doesn’t seem to have the same meaning or significance as when I could share it with my wife, Sharon. But I do it anyway, because God notices even the small things, and I sense God’s smile, his nod. And then I just need to bask in that smile, that delight, and let it flow over me.

Do you know that the Bible says that God delights in us, he rejoices over us? Zephaniah 3:14-17 is one of those places where the prophet packs in several different Hebrew words for joy—translated as rejoice, exult, sing, shout, gladness, loud singing. But the surprise is when he says God expresses his joy over us.

The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zeph. 3:17)

The Lord takes delight in his people, even his wayward people who return to him as a loving Father. Can you imagine the Lord exulting over you with loud singing?

Again, Isaiah says, “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isa. 62:5). Have you seen the look on the face of the groom at a wedding when he sees his bride walking down the aisle? He is beaming with a joy that is almost impossible to contain. That is the picture of God rejoicing over us.  We see it again in the great benediction of Jude 24: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.”

In the beatitudes, Jesus says, Blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the spiritually hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. That means whenever we live into these qualities, Jesus declares, we are blessed. “Bless you for you have been merciful. Bless you for you have been a faithful mourner.”

Later, when Jesus was with his disciples, he asked, Who do people say that I am? Answer: one of the prophets. Then he asked the  big question: “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter, who often did get things wrong, got this one right— “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) And Jesus responded with “Bless you, this did not come from human wisdom, you got this from the Father.”

Like the disciples, we are often bungling, slow to understand, fearful, and selfish. But sometimes we get it right, and at that point Jesus is beaming, his eyes are moist, and he pronounces his blessing upon us. Well done!

And lately I have been thinking that by extension, we ought to be quick to bless others, ready to respond with a beaming smile, a well done.

As parents we are so often involved with correcting our children and guiding our children on the right path (and they do need lots of correcting and guidance). But what about those times when we can just take delight in them, rejoice over them. What about those “out of the mouth of babes” moments when they just say something that is so pure, so innocent, and so true? (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21). Now with my grandkids, I am often joyfully smiling in those moments.

Have you noticed how the great apostle Paul often speaks of those who came to Christ under his care and teaching—You are my joy.

For you are our glory and joy. (I Thessalonians 2:20)

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. (Philippians 4:1)

At the memorial service for my wife, each of our four children shared something quite personal and profound about their mother for which they were grateful. And I told them that evening that I was proud of them and so pleased with what they shared. Yes, well done, my children. Our son wrote a song and sang it for the memorial service with his piano composition—”You took joy in me.” It illustrates this point so well. If you like, you can listen to it here.

I want to challenge you to take two opportunities today to rest in God’s smile and his rejoicing over you. It could be the beginning of a whole new dimension of your experience with God.

Thinking again of Eric Liddell’s quote: “God made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure,” can you fill in the blanks on this statement?

GOD MADE ME __________ AND WHEN I ___________ I FEEL  HIS PLEASURE.