God's Enjoyment of His Children
He pleased God.”’ — Hes. xi. 5.
WE are in the habit of thinking, perhaps not unduly, but with a certain lack of proportion, on the joy which our Father gives to His children. There is a complementary relationship which we are apt to forget and which reveals our power to give pleasure to God. It seems incredible that we can do anything to God Almighty, and more especially that we can enrich the treasures of His joys. A false or imperfect reverence makes us subdue the presumptuous thought, and we put it under most vigilant suspicion. But if the relation-Ship of father and child is anything more than a name, if it is something more than a verbal and formal expression, if it is really ae
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vital and intimate, it must be like a highway of spiritual commerce, and the precious merchandise must pass in both directions. There must be the carriage from father to child, and there must be a corresponding transport of wealth from child to father. On this mystic ladder there are ascending and descending angels, and both are laden with their respective bounty. God’s good grace can cover us with favour, and we can be well pleasing to God. If anyone is in Christ Jesus, our Father will joyfully say to His child, ‘‘ This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Well, now, God wants us to be so great that He can enjoy us. He wants us to be companions in whom He can delight. He wants to find a large hospitality in the cheery openness of our characters. Has He given us any hints as to what kind of greatness makes us pleasing in His presence? I think He has, and it may be helpful to look at one or two. There was one day when our Lord seemed to be momentarily restraining the outpouring of His grace. A Syroiemuegvnmasieniionpsevsticecrsuninibcicasineminssasiausiie ia tue ere ams 230 God’s Enjoyment of His Children
Pheenician woman was pleading for help, and the answer was delayed. But the woman’s heart seemed to grow larger in entreaty, and she marshalled all her powers of love in the urgency of her siege upon the heart of the Lord. And then the unwillingly hindered Fountain burst forth in streams of grace! ‘‘ Oh, woman, great is thy faith!” That is one form of greatness which makes the children of men most pleasing companions to the Lord. Shall we dare to say that a great faith always gives the Lord the delight of surprise? “When Jesus saw his faith, He marvelled.” That man was a fit companion for the enjoyment of God.
And here is another hint of the sort of folk who are so great that God can find pleasure in them. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Who cannot feel the warmth of God’s enjoyment glowing in this gift of joy? And what had these people
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done? They had done little things in a ereat way. They had been great on small occasions. They had lived in obscurity with a lofty sort of life as though the eyes of multitudes had been fixed upon them. They had put an exquisite finish on work which was never intended for the public gaze. They had been scrupulous about the scruples. They had finished the work which God had given them to do. And God rejoiced in them and called them into His joy as fit companions to sit with Him on His throne. And other hints are given which I have not space to mention. There are people who are great in self-forgetfulness. “When saw we Thee an hungered and gave Thee meat?” How He rejoiced in the greatness of their companionship! But how is all this greatness to become ours? ‘‘ No man by being anxious can add a cubit to his stature.” No, but God can add a cubit to our stature. If we are only willing He will make us well-pleasing to Himself. He will make us kings and priests unto God. “Thy gentleness hath made me great,”
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