Taking delight

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his
one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."
1 John 4:9
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God"
John 1:12

"The LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in."
Proverbs 3:12
"The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand."
Psalm 121:5

For many years as a Christian, I've heard and read countless times how God sent his only Son to die so that we can become His children. It was only during last Sunday's church service that I've understood this truth at a deeper level. As we partook the Lord's supper, I somehow was led by the Holy Spirit to imagine if it were Joash being sent to die for the whole of mankind. What if he was the one being hung on the cross for a crime he did not commit? I actually felt like crying. It dawned upon me the extent of God's love for us at an emotional level.

I also find myself madly in love with Joash even when he is fussy and at times inconsolable. As I trained him to sleep on his own, enduring his crying, wasn't that done out of love for him too? My heart overflows with delight even as I watch Joash sleep. I then ask myself: Is that how God sees us? God is pleased with us even if we have not done anything at all. Being a parent has opened my eyes to see even more of God's wonderful love for us. Praise God for his everlasting love!

Here's something that really amuses me as I watch Joash sleep. Look closely at his mouth...