God Gets Emotional

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.”

Isaiah 42:1

Have you ever taken delight in someone? Maybe you’ve burst into laughter over an infant’s first smile. Perhaps you’ve beamed with pride as a dear one graduates from college with honors. Or you’ve felt the delicious warmth of a loved one’s gaze.

To take delight in someone close means to relish in his achievements. To be jubilant in his triumphs. To be captivated with his beauty and to find pleasure in the adoration and love given in return. And praise God, this is the way he feels about you!

When you obey, for instance, God doesn’t merely observe from a distance and nod approvingly. He is not dispassionate or inexcitable about your obedience. Rather, when you grit your teeth and decide to obey, when you stem the tide of temptation and heroically follow Christ, the Lord is thrilled. He is delighted.

Oh, how it must give Jesus joy when we choose to obey. How it must delight him when he sees our face and hears our voice in praise. And just in case you still think God isn’t emotional toward you, consider Isaiah 62:5, “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”

Near the end of Jesus’ public ministry, the fog began to lift from the disciples’ thinking. At the end of John chapter 16, the light dawns and they rise to a new level of trust and understanding. In John 16:31, Jesus exclaimed, “You believe at last!” Now that’s getting emotional!

Lord, you are the one in whom I delight. You are the one in whose love I relish. I am captivated with your beauty, and I find pleasure in adoring you and worshiping you. May my praise be lovely in your sight!