God’s Pleasure: He Wants You

  We aspire to answer the question: am I wanted? Too often our heart strings are racing to be  entangled with whatever hope of someone possibly loving us. We relish at any attention we’re given, either negative or postive, because we are captivated by the thought that someone desires us. 

The long fall back to earth happens at the reality we attained less of our sense of self worth. Wounds cut deep to realize someone we assume cared about us only acted in such a way for their own selfish gain. 

Trust is hard earned today. Honestly, why should we blame anyone for keeping such a guard? We can’t see sincerity in face value as much anymore.

But as cliché as it sounds: God wants us…for us

“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:5, 6 NKJV)

God determined beforehand by Jesus Christ to adopt you. He decided that when at your coming to Him to be saved from all wrong that would destroy you, He was going to bring you into His family. And he did for the praise of the glory: He did it because He was pleased to do it. 

Being belonged to God is something that makes Him happy! 

How unfathomable is that? It’s inconceivable enough that God would want to save us in the first place.

It was justice for the terrorist Osama Bin Laden to die, because of he was responsible for the death of countless thousands that are still piling today. What scares me is that God sees it justice by sending everyone to Hell. 

God commanded: The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (Ezekiel 18:20 NKJV)

That means that the person who sins will die. Sin is whenever you displease God. You displease God when you lie and you displease God for not thanking Him for life. Both are sin. It feels harsh but God made man to make Him happy. Not vice versa. 

He will be individually responsible for his wickedness against God and be punished. Romans 3:10 declares that there is none good. We have all missed the mark. 

The justice of a righteous God demands punishment for every crime against His precepts. The sentence God placed for our disobedience to His precepts is death.

At the shooting of Osama Bin Laden, could we imagine someone taking the bullet for him. No! We all wanted to see him die. He deserved to lose his life for taking so many others’ lives away. 

God is not a man. He looks at wrong differently from us. He doesn’t measure wrong. He sees a toddler throwing the pacifier across the room as bad as a terrorist planning to drive two planes into two skyscrapers to kill people. I lost an uncle at 9/11. He sees every wrong inexcusable and worthy of punishment.  

All that is within me cried for the head of Bin Laden, but at the same place when I first disobeyed God, all heaven cried for my death.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (Ephesians 2:4, 5 NKJV)

God loved us so much that while we were dead because of our wrong, He gave us life through Christ. God wanted us. And how much: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

Its overwhelming to imagine all that it took for God to bring us to state of being clear of wrong. Christ became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Every nasty thing, every secret fault, every evil deed, every selfish motive- Christ became that so you could literally have a clean slate.

I have cried at this fact of Christ dying to save me from death because of my sin and to give me a right standing with God. What also causes my eyes to become teary is to see that God didn’t just saved me from sin but He also adopted me. He made me a part of His family.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1:12 NKJV)

All who believe Christ, God decided to give them the right to be His children! We are born into this family not by human passions or plans that can later be regretted by a parent who has lost concern for his offspring. 

We are born into God’s family by God’s choice. This is what God wanted to do. According Ephesians 1:6 (see top), it gave Him great pleasure to do it.

Just allow your mind to entangle itself around the idea that God loved you at your worst and saved you with His best (the cost of Your Son) and then poured out His love on you by making you a part of His family. I leave you with a story that has impressed me gravely to understand God’s extravagant love.

Indeed if anyone has reason for justice it was Adele. At a genocide in Rwanda, Adele lost her husband. She saw as attackers came and flay his body with a machete. She saw as they slit his throat. As her husband fell to the ground that was a pool of his own blood, the pastor cried out to God to forgive his attackers. These men turned on Adele. They sliced her face deeply. Everyday a mirror shows her great scar. Adele was left among dead bleeding from her face, back and her wrist at the cuts of machetes. Three years it took her to recover. For many it would take a lifetime to even to consider forgiveness. Not Adele.

“I could be a bitter, angry, resentful old woman, but I’m not going to do that.”

Adele started going to the prisoners and mothered the very men who had attack her village. One day Adele met Luis. She met him prostrated before her, kissing her feet and crying bitterly. Adele examined the trembling man and saw that Luis was the man that had killed her beloved husband and the man that marked her face. A man’s love draws its limits at such a woeful event, but Adele was filled richly with a love we saw earlier in God.

Luis asked, “Adele, would you forgive me?”

Adele bent over as the Father did from the clouds of heaven and pulled Luis up as God did from our place of unwantedness. She looked into Luis’ eyes and said, “Luis, I forgive you.”

The story could end there, but it doesn’t. Luis was released for good behavior, but he entered society unwanted. Then entered Adele. Adele found Luis and she saw these words, “Luis, you come and I will adopt you as my son.”

How much does God love you? Enough so that He made death so that it would be difficult for you to remain in wrong. Enough that He made a way for you to escape punishment by the cost of His dear Son. Enough so that He decided to make you His child when you ask for His forgiveness. And it was His great pleasure.

You are wanted.

The Want For Escape

When we are confronted with a personal issue, more often than not its sin, there is this natural want to escape from it. 

To get away. Just not worry about it.

Cain ran from God because he did not want to be accounted for killing his brother. We have Jonah traveling entirely opposite from God’s sovereign direction for Jonah to preach to his enemies at Nineveh.

We cannot hide. Especially if it is sin. God clearly stated that will “bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14 NKJV). 

God found Cain as he ran from the scene of the crime. He exposed him, exclaiming to Cain, “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10 NKJV). Then Cain faced his judgment.

God forced Jonah to go to Nineveh with a fierce storm and a whale.*

Truth is you can’t run from confrontation. All of us need to learn that we need to run through them.

Even Jesus sought an escape from His mission to suffer and die. This act was necessarily for all of us.

Jesus revealed his humanity when He wrestled with the thoughts of the immense suffering that waited for Him. He even pleaded with Father God asking, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 NKJV). 

We are human. Confrontation honestly is uncomfortable. Here are some things to consider when faced with confrontation.

1. The Confrontation could possibly be God’s divine fingers, pointing out our sin or pointing us to do the right thing. 

We saw God confronted Cain with his sin in killing his brother. God also confronted Jonah to do the right thing which was to go to Nineveh.

When we are confronted with sin, we need to remember that He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). 

“For whom the Lord loves He chastens…” (Hebrews 12:6 NKJV). We are God’s children, therefore he will confront us on our wrong and discipline us.

We need to always do the right thing because we have to as Christ’s followers. God says its sin to not do what you know you ought to do:

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17 NKJV)

When confronted, we need to always do the right thing.  (Check out Doing Good Because You Have To)

2. Whenever confronted, see God’s desire in the matter. 

God has called us to “be imitators of God as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1 NKJV). He desires that we “be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29 NKJV).  God will even use trials and circumstances to shape you into His desired image.

Know also that God wants us to be a better person. As He molds us, especially in undelightful confrontations, it’s always for your good. As you endure confrontations, remember that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). 

3. Always depend on God’s strength. 

Remember Mary, Jesus’ mother. Here she is minding her own business, when she is suddenly approached face to face with an Angel whom declares her assignment to carry the Son of God. Talk about confrontation!

When Mary listed the impossibilities, the angel responded boldly, “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37 NKJV). 

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10 NKJV). 

You can’t afford to shrink and hide from your problems when they confront you. That weakens you.

Any confrontation you face, you can always bank on God to see you through it. Cast all your anxiety upon Christ because He cares for you**.

Mary understood she could make it through this confrontation that included incredible responsibility and supernatural elements only on God’s strength.

She gave the right answer for the angel. “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word’ (Luke 1: 38 NKJV). 

You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength, even in confrontations.*** Trust in Him.

*Jonah 1

**1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

***Philippians 4:13:  ^“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

All It Takes Is One Mistake to Fall

It’s funny how sometimes one little mishap can do some much damage.

I’m working on video editorial lab exercise. I’ve spent two hours on it. By one mistake of neglecting to add a particular feature, I’ve lost everything up until now, and I have to start all over.

Jesus brought Moses to mind. For their nearly 80 years wandering in the wilderness, Israel was constantly unfaithful to God, except for Moses. At every mistake Israel makes, Moses comes out unmarked of fault.

But one day. The people of Israel griped of lack of water. By this point, the most meekest man in the world has had enough. God instructed Moses specifically how He wanted Moses to speak to a rock and command water to draw forth. But Moses was in such a rage.

“Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.”

But Moses’ “one” mistake cost him heavily:

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.'” (Numbers 20:11, 12 NKJV)

Isn’t sad that Moses has been faithful to God all 80 years of service in the wilderness, and the one time he messes up, he can’t go into the Promised Land!

We have to be careful not to overlook any minor details that may cause us stumble in our relationship with Jesus.

“Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (1 Corinthians 5:6 NKJV)

Be careful: A little sin can harm your entire soul.

Doing Good Because You Have To

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17 NKJV)

We are commanded to do good. God says its sin to not do what you know you ought to do.

Refraining from doing good has its consequences.

Nabal was a very successful sheep owner.* Upon his large land, that housed 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, is David, whom is a fugitive from King Saul. While David and his men lived among Nabal’s cattle and his workers, David protected Nabal’s property. David wasn’t asked to do it, he just did.

One day David relays a message to Nabal. He tells him about his stay nearby and how he had been watching over his property. David graciously asked if the prosperous farmer could feed him and his men.

It wasn’t wrong of David to ask Nabal to do this; after all, he had been guarding Nabal’s property without charge!

But the Bible says Nabal blew up in a quick rage and barked shamefully at David’s messengers.

While we can argue it was Nabal’s right to determine use of what’s his, God details Nabal’s action as sin, because he knew he ought to return good to David for the good David had shown him.

Nabal consequently suffered for his actions. This is the last we hear of Nabal: “after about ten days, that the Lord struck Nabal…he died.” (1 Samuel 25:38 NKJV)

Not doing good when there is opportunity is sin, and to secure obedience, God punishes sin. This especially includes God’s children!**

Don’t belittle God’s glory by refraining to show kindness when you can. Remember it’s by God’s mercy that you are even alive. From oxygen to redemption by Christ’s death, you are a product of God’s love.

When you can and as long as you can, do good.

*1 Samuel 25:2-39 follows David’s encounter with foolish Nabal.

**For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:6 NKJV)

Light

Light cannot ever coincide darkness (duh). Whenever light enters a dark space, it repels the darkness around it. They can never be together; its either one or the other.

God is holy. He is always pure and righteous. In fact the Bible describes Him as light:

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” – 1 John 1:5

Sin is not God’s vocabulary, and like light to darkness, He also can’t coincide with it. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Size doesn’t matter. Once you have sinned, you have broken fellowship with God.

As Romans 3:23 stated, “all have sinned”; at one time in our lives we have fallen short of God’s glory, and therefore we are repelled from relating to God.

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. ” -Colossians 1:21-22

It was by the blood of Jesus on the cross that we are removed of sin’s power and punishment over our lives and now we can have fellowship with God.

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” -1 John 1:7

God desires intimacy with us. To keep healthy intimacy with God, we must “walk in the light”.

If we truly desire to be intimate with Him then we must seek to be in the light as He is in the light; that is being removed from the presence of sin and seeking to be filled of righteousness.

Freedom from Regular Sins

“…Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.” -Psalms 62:6

I read Psalms 62 today and I was embalmed with the delight that our God saves us from sin, from temptation, from harm and from attacks of the devil. What particularly impressed me is that God also saves me from habitual sins or “regular sins”.

I’m referring to those sins that so easily besets me (like a saying a crude joke). I call them “regular sins” because I commit them over and over again.

But I can say I do have victory over these sins, because by the power of Christ, I am saved also from regular sins.

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24).

His death on the cross eliminated every dominance of sin over our lives.

“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

I don’t have to feel enslaved by them. God has rescued me from their control and by His blood I have been purchased to serve Him.

No sin does have to take you down. Ask God to save from those habits and let your soul wait for God, knowing He will deliver you.