TO SAY THAT WE ARE TO “REJOICE IN THE LORD”…DELIGHT IN THE LORD, to find pleasure in Him we understand the Scriptures tell us to do so such as the command to do so in Philippians 3:1 which says, “Further, my brothers and sisters, REJOICE IN THE LORD!” The joy, delight, pleasure is a result of the relationship with the LORD!
The Greek Lexicon gives us some insights into the word, “REJOICE”…
-” 5463 xaírō (from the root xar-, “favorably disposed, leaning towards” and cognate with 5485 /xáris, “grace”) – properly, to delight in God’s grace (“rejoice”) – literally, to experience God’s grace (favor), be conscious (glad) for His grace.”– {Greek Lexicon- Helps Word Studies}.
We can understand that we need and have the privilege and pleasure of knowing and delighting in the LORD. It’s relational. Delighting, finding joy in the One you love because He first loved you!
But to say that God finds JOY, delight, and pleasure in you, can be a bit shocking to the system.
The question arises How can God find any Joy, or take pleasure in me,? Because at times we see how “unlovable” we are! This exposes a false concept in us as though somehow we can earn, and merit His love by behaving when we can do nothing if we lived a million lifetimes to merit His Love. His love is gifted to us not because we were loveable but because He lovingly chose to do so. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”-{Romans 5:8}. It is all of Grace, unmerited favor that we should be loved and called “children of God, and such we are,..” because of His doing!- Amazing grace!-{Read 1 John 3:1-2}
Yet, Scripture teaches God does find pleasure in His people, pure unadulterated joy, and delight. Let me show you some ways. For example, in
- Zeph 3:17 says –“ For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will TAKE DELIGHT IN YOU WITH GLADNESS. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will REJOICE OVER YOU with JOYFUL SONGS.” -{Zeph 3:14-17 nlt} –
- “The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will REJOICE OVER YOU WITH JOY, He will be quiet in His love, He will REJOICE OVER YOU with shouts of JOY.”
- Isaiah 62:2-5 –“The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name Which the mouth of the Lord will designate. 3 You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, And a royal headband in the hand of your God. 4 It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,” Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”; But you will be called, “My DELIGHT IN IN HER,” And your land, “Married”; For the Lord DELIGHTS IN YOU, And to Him your land will be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the groom rejoices over the bride, So your GOD WILL REJOICE OVER YOU.”
- Psalm 149:2,4 –“ Israel shall be joyful in his Maker; The sons of Zion shall rejoice in their King. 3 They shall praise His name with dancing; They shall sing praises to Him with tambourine and lyre. For the Lord TAKES PLEASURE IN HIS PEOPLE; He will glorify the lowly with salvation.”
You find joy in the one you love!
What are some elements that God finds in you to Joy, take pleasure, rejoice in?
Consider some such as…
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Your Repentance- Luke 15:7 –
“ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
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Your Trust- Heb 11:5–
“ By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him “- “Pleasure”= Delight “
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Your Acknowledge His Deliverance- Psalm 18:19-
“He also brought me out into an open place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.”
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God’s Word– Ps 119:111-112 –
“I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes. Forever, even to the end.”
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Your Worship, Adore, “Fear Him”- Psalm 147:11-
“The Lord favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His [c]faithfulness.” The word “Favors” is the Hebrew word which means “to be pleased with, to accept favorably.” –“fear”= awesome, to stand in awe, reverence.”
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Your Prayer, Communing with God – Prov 15:8 –
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.”
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Your Righteous Behavior {Integrity}- 1 Chron 29:17 –
“Since I know, my God, that You put the heart to the test and DELIGHT IN UPRIGHTNESS, -{“…HAST PLEASURE IN UPRIGHTNESS” –{{KJV}- “and are PLEASED WITH INTEGRITY”- NIV} –“…I Know my God, that you EXAMINE OUR HEARTS and REJOICE when you find INTEGRITY there.”{NLT}….and have PLEASURE I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.”
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Your Blameless Character– Prov 11:20 –
“The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.”
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Your Faithful Service- Servant- {Matt 25:21-23} –
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.”
JOY IS A GIFT FROM GOD exclusively to those in right relationship with HIM through our LORD Jesus Christ!; To those who Believe the Gospel,-{Luke 2:20}; Produced by the Holy Spirit-{Rom 14:17; Gal 5:22}…
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.-{ fully mature}.” – {John 15:11}
1 John 1:3- 4- “ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our {YOUR } joy complete.”
God finds pleasure in you, His Beloved in your repentance, trusting Him, acknowledging Deliverance, His Word, Worship, communing with Him in prayer, righteous character- {integrity}, blamelessness, Faithful service!
My prayer for you is, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”-{Romans 15:13}
Your delight in Him who delights in you!
GOD BLESS,
Aidan,