Over Thanksgiving, I met my four-month old nephew
for the first time. It was a delight: I was able to hold him while he was going
to sleep, change his diaper, and the best of all—to make farting noises and
watch him crack a big smile each time. (I am convinced that this is one of an
uncle’s primary roles—along with roughhousing as nephews grow bigger.)
As I reflected on this time, it was interesting to notice
that Paul didn’t have to do anything
for me to delight in spending time with him. He couldn’t carry on a conversation,
throw a football, or help me brainstorm a sermon idea. And yet I had a great
time with him. In fact, pretty much all he could do was smile. But that’s the most rewarding thing to my brother,
sister in law, or the rest of his relatives: When we made a silly face or funny
noise, seeing him smile was an incomparable delight.
How easily do we forget that God delights in us
before we can do anything? He knit us
together in our mother’s womb (see Psalm 139:13), and He claims us as His own in
Jesus. In Mark 1:11, the Father tells Jesus, “You are my Son, whom I love; with
you I am well pleased.” And believing in Jesus, we have been claimed by God as
His own beloved sons and daughters—before we have done anything. He delights in us, and He delights to see us simply smiling
up at Him in response.
How easy to forget that we are not called to be so
different from my nephew. In the busyness of doing things "for God", we often neglect
to rest in His delight in us as His son or daughter whom He loves. Yes, Paul
will grow up and be able to do more than smile, but one would hope that this mutual
delight would remain at the core of his relationship with his parents and others
who love him.
“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior
who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer
rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) Belonging
to and following Jesus, this promise is ours to claim (see 2 Corinthians 1:20). We are called to grow in using our gifts to
serve God and others, but must never forget this core truth that our Father
delights in us before we can do anything. And perhaps what He desires from us
right now is a simple smile in response to His delight in us.
