Delight in God
"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:"1
Several gospels mention children who came to Christ (Matthew 19:13, Luke 18:15-17, Mark 10:13-16). Some of these children may have climbed onto his lap, while others may have sat at his feet. We could imagine them asking him many questions, begging him to tell them more parables, and whispering secrets in his ear. It’s no wonder they gathered around the Lord Jesus who loves us perfectly.
Contrast this picture of the Lord's warm nature with the image some Christians have of God: they see him as a taskmaster who judges and coerces with intimidation. While it is true that we must obey God's commandments, we must also delight in Him as we would in the company of a good friend.
When we imagine a stern God, we end up spending a lot of time and energy trying to "earn" our salvation. But God's sovereign authority is perfectly balanced with an eternal, unconditional love. He wants His children to delight in spending time with Him.
Our Father looks beyond our shortcomings. In fact, out of His great love, He sent Jesus Christ to save us so that we can live with Him in heaven for eternity. There is no better friend than Christ.
Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity You give me to delight in You. Let me be aware of your presence in my life, so that I can enjoy your company, as I would a good friend. Thank you Lord, that you look beyond my flaws and love me with unconditional love. Thank you, in Jesus' name, Amen.
1. Psalm 37:3-5 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.