The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Pleasure In His People"
Innumerable truths, facts, and realities comprise the temporal and eternal existence of born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. One is perhaps most personal, and can be the most motivating.
"The Lord taketh pleasure in His people" (Psalm 149:4).
We possess the capacity to elicit pleasure in the infinite God by responding to Him in faith and its fruit of faithfulness. He does not need us, and all the more desires our relationship and fellowship because He does not (Acts 17:25). For the believer, the indwelling Holy Spirit makes possible a devotion that pleases our Father's heart as He sees Christ revealed in our unique and distinct person. Such a response does not require monumental accomplishments or feats of holiness. The simplest acts of trust and obedience doubtless bless God's heart as we seek to honor His presence and working in us. We love Him by trusting Him and keeping His commandments, and wondrous as it may seem, such devotion elicits pleasure in His heart (John 14:15).
This awareness must grace the sensibilities of all believers. Our Father has no interest in a relationship devoid of our finding pleasure in Him, and in His finding pleasure in us. God severely chastened Israel "because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things" (Deuteronomy 28:47). Our walk with the Lord has to be personal. Of course, different dispositions and personalities will manifest a genuinely loving relationship with Him in countless ways. "Gladness of heart" may also be accompanied by contrasting emotional experiences at different times, and in varying life experiences. "Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he… As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (Proverbs 16:20; II Corinthians 6:10). Indeed, to know God's pleasure in us and to be pleased in Him transcends mere feeling. The blessing rather involves a deep inner mystery of God's presence, declared by the Apostle Peter as beyond words: "Joy unspeakable (inexpressible) and fully of glory" (I Peter 1:8).
"In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).
The growing discovery that we can please God greatly motivates our determination to be pleased by Him. He made and redeemed us for such a wonder of grace bestowed, and such a gift of grace received. He will not be content with any lesser fellowship with our hearts. Nor should we. The Psalmist proclaimed a blessed place of grace where a wonder awaits us, the marvel that God will be pleased to receive us as we come through Christ in humility, faith, love, and the determination to bring joy to the heart of One who is the very essence of our joy…
"Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy."
(Psalm 43:4)
"The prayer of the upright is His delight."
(Proverbs 15:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
We do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies."
(Daniel 9:18)
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