the Lord's Delight

To the blog faithful...I apologize for missing a week (actually more.) Too many things going on, and Christmas is on the horizon. NO matter...the great thing about following the Master is he never, ever takes a holiday. In fact, as I muse on the thought, we are his holiday!

You might wonder how I can come up with that preposterous sounding statement, but it's true. Now, you're thinking things like: "Wait, I'm just a poor sinner saved by grace. I'm not perfect, far from it" stuff like that. But did you ever take much time to chew on the fact that his followers are his delight? We get caught up in beautiful panoramas, special events, and finding tiny moments of escape from our reality. However, I'm not so sure God sits back and ponders the glory of the heavens. We're to do that in order to see a glimpse of his glory.

Now, don't get me wrong. God stepped back from creation, looked it over, and said "It is good." Cool! But he had bigger goals than forming temporary vacation spots for himself. His prize was, and is, and always will be, the redeemed!

Oswald Chambers said this; "Pride is the deification of self... To say 'Oh, I'm no saint,' is acceptable to human pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. It literally means that you defy God to make you a saint, 'I'm much to weak and hopeless.' Humility before men may be unconscious blasphemy before God. Why are you not a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe God can make you one."

Whoa! To remember that we are God's redemption project should cause us to want to partner in his success. Sure, we are not perfect yet...but are we moving deeper into the folds of his grace, learning to walk deeper in the joy of his holiness, and leaving that which is behind in order to press to the goal of the high call in Christ?

As we go further into fellowship with the Master, I believe we'll understand better that Jesus has, does, and will continue to delight in his bride. Then, on a soon coming day, he'll split the sky, give a shout, order a trumpet call, and call his delight to his side. Very cool!
Pastor Jim