"Baby Hog"

            I joked on Sunday morning about Joanne, my wife, being a “baby hog”. Our recent visit to see our daughter and her husband was much about meeting and being with our new grandson, though we were happy to see his parents as well. On Sunday I said I enjoyed holding him… when I could get him out of Joanne’s arms. In the limited time we had she wanted to make the most of every opportunity. And truthfully, it is a great delight to me to watch my wife delight in Mason. Her experience of joy gives me joy.

            This illustrates another opportunity I have: taking delight in the Lord as He delights in His children. My attitude toward my brothers and sisters in Christ changes when I realize that God delights in them. They are precious to Him and He enjoys them. The Bible describes how in the past God took great pleasure in His children. It uses deeply personal descriptions. Sometimes He is like a husband delighting in his wife, and sometimes He is like a parent delighting in His children.  

I know Joanne could sit for hours just holding, looking at, or playing with Mason. Other “activities” hold little appeal for her in those moments. Do you think of God, your Father in that way? In Christ, His love for you and me is so great that He loves just being with us. In Christ, you are a priority to Him. Endless source of love that He is, He can love you this way, along with every other child He has redeemed. God the Father delights in you because of Christ’s work in you. You have been redeemed and made His child for His glory. His love is not a soupy, sentimental love. It’s a love that does whatever it takes for us to be in the center of His will and purpose in this world. Sometimes it is a comforting love. At other times it is a disciplining love. At still other times it can be a gifting, encouraging, forgiving, or teaching love. Whatever dimension God’s love for us takes, it is always focused upon us through His Son Jesus, the mediator of His grace.

The next time you experience deep pleasure and joy in a relationship, take a moment to thank the Lord that it is a reflection and reminder of the pleasure He has in you.

1 John 3:1 (NIV)  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Psalm 68:5 (NIV)  A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)  Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Matthew 7:11 (NIV)  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Romans 8:14-17 (NIV) ¹⁴  because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." ¹⁶  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. ¹⁷  Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)  He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 66:12-13 (NIV) ¹²  For this is what the LORD says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. ¹³  As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

Psalm 149:4 (NIV)  For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you that you delight in your Son. And as we have been made your children by His work and righteousness, we rejoice that we are your children. So we are beloved, treasured, and cherished by you. What an awesome thing to be the object of your pleasure and enjoyment. Please be glorified in us as you love and nurture us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott