Summer time creates opportunities for me that are not typically available. A few weeks ago my schedule worked out in such a way that I was able to take my six year old to breakfast. Just me and him. No phones, no distractions, no agenda. Just dad and son time. Time to be guys together. As I delivered the news to him that morning, and he raced off to get dressed, his enthusiasm was obvious. As we climbed into the car, I don’t think he stopped grinning. As we slid into the booth he asked if he could order his favorite: pancakes. When I said he could, he placed his order with the waitress with much gusto. As we sat there talking while waiting on our food, him swinging his legs back and forth and me sipping coffee, it hit me how much I enjoy that kid. In fact, the word that came to mind was DELIGHT. I delight in him. In Psalm 16:18 we hear these astonishing words from the Lord: “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Amazing. The Lord DELIGHTS in those who are his. I’ll be honest that while I am very aware from God’s word that God loves me, the word delight strikes something different in me. It’s as if delight is an aspect of his love that helps me remember that he actually enjoys me. He genuinely likes knowing me and spending time with me. Just like I enjoy being with Jem, the Lord enjoys being with each of us as his children.
Now, to be clear, the word delight as seen in God’s word is multi-faceted. It is connected to God rescuing us out of difficult situations (Psalm 18:19) and protecting us in the face of temptation (Psalm 41:11) and even disciplining us when necessary (Proverbs 3:12). Experiencing God’s delight happens in a variety of ways as we encounter a variety of situations, and this is also true of my relationship with Jem. Sometimes he needs rescuing, at other times protecting, and at other times disciplining. In all of these things my delight in him is unchanged, though the expression of my delight looks different in each of these instances. And so it is with our relationship with Lord: we experience him in different ways at different times, but in all of the twists and turns of our journey with him, one truth we can always rest in is that he delights in us as his children.
Ben
***Application Consideration: Who is someone you can spend one-on-one time with this week? Your spouse? One of your children? One of your parents? Someone in your shepherding group? Someone you’ve been wanting to get to know better? An unchurched friend? Spend some time asking the Lord to direct you to someone you can bless this week by spending one-on-one time with them.