God rejoices over you with singing
This fresh set of Daily Devotions is being provided for our LCA/NZ family, friends and visitors to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we face unsettling times. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the LCA/NZ’s Church@Home resources to encourage us and build trust in our Heavenly Father during this season of uncertainty and physical isolation.
by Norma Koehne
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‘The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing’ (Zephaniah 3:17).
What an amazing image this is! God is rejoicing over us, rejoicing over us with singing! What a contrast to images many people have of a stern or distant God. It reminds me of that passage in Luke 15:10: ‘There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents’. I have always imagined the angels and saints rejoicing, but here God rejoices with gladness and song.
But how can God rejoice over me, with all my imperfections and lack of love? I am reminded of an illustration I once heard in a sermon. The pastor had young grandchildren and one of them had drawn him a picture. To look at it, it was just squiggly lines. So, he said, ‘Tell me about your picture’. The child answered, ‘This is you and me and we are holding hands’. The grandfather replied with tears in his eyes, ‘That is a beautiful picture’.
Similarly, God looks at our frail faith and our feeble works of love, like squiggly lines, and he rejoices over us as a loving Father who has given all that he has, his only Son, for us. Not only does he see into our hearts, but he gives us his Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and support us as we, in love and gratitude, try to do his will. When he looks on his beloved children, he sees them clothed with the righteousness of Christ. He is glad to call us his children and to hold us close in his family.
What an encouragement to us as we worship, immerse ourselves in God’s word, pray, and perform acts of love. As we do these things, God is happy and rejoices over us. What a truly wonderful Father!
Loving Father, thank you that you look on us with gladness as we live our lives as your children, and in your service. Amen.
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