The crewmembers of an international airline that makes a daily flight to Uganda stay at a hotel down the street from my home. During their 24 hours in the country, many of them visit my organization, Tukutana, and spend time with children in our programs. The guests often bring gifts. This past Friday, though, two women came empty-handed. Instead of distributing presents, they played games with the children and taught them songs from their native countries.
After their time together ended, a 13-year-old girl, Irene, said to me, “Auntie Rox, those were our best visitors!” “Why did you like them so much?” I asked. “Because,” Irene exclaimed, “they enjoyed us!” Irene’s comment prompted me to think immediately of the Westminster Shorter Catechism that declares, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”
Like Irene, the Lord desires our fellowship with Him more than our works and gifts for Him. He wants us to delight in Him alone. To enjoy God, we must “search for [Him] and for His strength” and “continually seek Him” (1 Chronicles 16:11). By doing so, we can find deep satisfaction in His character, His love, and His attributes.
We are also to abide faithfully in what Scripture has taught us and thus “remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.” Then we will enjoy Him and “the eternal life He promised us” (1 John 2:24-25).
As we enjoy God, and “recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong,” we will “give to the Lord the glory He deserves!” (1 Chronicles 16:28-29). Indeed, whether rich or poor, “All who seek the Lord will praise Him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy” (Psalm 22:26).
Today, let’s “give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 26:57-75
More:
Psalm 144:15 says only people who have made the Lord their God experience true joy. What does this claim mean to you?
Next:
Spend 20 minutes seek¬ing the Lord through prayer and Bible study and then list the ways you enjoyed Him. What happens to our faith when we enjoy God?
Jerusha on September 22, 2012 at 6:24 am
Thak you for Our daily Journey, it really makes me think. I do love the Lord and I experience His faithful love everyday.
mike on September 22, 2012 at 6:54 am
What a great way to start this day. I love the reality
that “God is for me, not against me.”
Thank you for the wonderful reminder.
GChoo on September 22, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Roxanne, thank you for sharing with us this inspiring and encouraging message.
Yes, it is not our works or gifts to Him but our daily fellowship with our Sovereign God and heavenly Father that will delight Him. In the course of us serving in God’s work, we may think that we are close to God. However, when we do not take the time to worship and stay close to His Word we will not develop a deeper understanding of God’s love and plan for us.
When i take time daily to reflect on my life, read His Word and to open my eyes to His creation, i can only praise God for His love, grace and mercy for me. There is really that joy (indescribable) and peace in His presence. Our God is worthy to be praised forever and forever.