Does God Delight in Me?

Who Does God Delight In?

Delight is expressed in Hebrew meaning “to bend towards, to be inclined towards [an object or person]” or “to delight or take pleasure in.” We see God’s delight supremely at the baptism and transfiguration of Jesus. When Jesus is baptized, the Father says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

At another time, Jesus led Peter, James and John up a high mountain where He was transfigured before their eyes. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became like white light. God spoke from a cloud that covered them and said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5). God the Father delights in His Son, Jesus.

The Delight of Adoption

The delight of God from Father to Son is given to us by the Holy Spirit, that whoever believes in Him is then adopted into His family as sons and daughters of God. In Ephesians 1:5, it says, “he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” God’s pleasure and will are to bring us into His family in perfect love, through faith in the Son and by the power of the Spirit. When we receive the greatest gift and good news of all, Jesus Christ and Him crucified for us, we become children of God:

The Delight of Obedience

Although God delights in us because of His love, He also delights when we are obedient to Him. When it comes to the subject of obedience, this may be where those feelings of disappointment come in. We may be acutely aware of our sin and shortcomings, believing that the Lord is disappointed in us. However, just like a good father may be disappointed in the actions his child takes, he never stops loving them. Their relationship may be strained because of disobedience or waywardness. But their child still remains dearly loved by them.

What Does God Not Delight In?

Remembering who God delights in and what Jesus has done for us, we can begin to understand that in His holiness and goodness, there would be things that He does not delight in. Proverbs 6:16-19 give many examples of things the Lord hates including: “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” We live in a world full of good gifts and the love of God, yet it is a world that is broken by sin and evil. Sin creates a barrier for humanity to be in relationship with Him and it cost Jesus His life on the cross as He paid the penalty for sin (Romans 3:21-26).

How Does God’s Delight Affect Our Lives Today?

Christians are a redeemed people whom God delights in. Knowing we are loved by God allows us to reciprocate this love towards Him and others. Our salvation is a result of God’s delight in us. No more do we need to hide ourselves from God fearing punishment. We can boldly approach His throne since it is a throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus has paid the ransom which prevented us from accessing God’s presence.