On the heels of last week's thoughts around conversational intimacy with God, this past week I felt God impressing upon my heart how much I enjoy my relationship with Him, and that I should tell you about that. Enjoy God? you may wonder. How is that …
On the heels of last week's thoughts around conversational intimacy with God, this past week I felt God impressing upon my heart how much I enjoy my relationship with Him, and that I should tell you about that.
Enjoy God? you may wonder. How is that possible? What does that even look like?
These are natural questions, especially in light of the mental image of God we probably all grew up with: a mean old man sitting behind a judge's bench, frowning, grumbling, keeping track of every bad thing we've ever done, and eagerly anticipating His chance to condemn us to hell forever. Certainly, this can't be far removed from the notion of God commonly accepted in our secular culture today.
So, how could you possibly enjoy someone like that?
My answer is, I don't know, so I'm glad that my faith journey has brought me down the path of truth, enabling me to see God for who He really is.
Yes, judgment is involved, but only because a perfect and holy God cannot allow sin into His presence. But the thing is, He offered us (and still offers us) Jesus as a covering for our sins. Jesus took the punishment we deserve for all the bad things we've ever done and ever will do. By His suffering and execution, we are cleansed, made holy and right in God's eyes, as long as we accept the gift of grace He has offered us.
That doesn't sound like a mean old man to me. It sounds like a Father who loves us so much there isn't anything He won't do to enable us to be with Him.
So this week I want to spend a few minutes unpacking what it means to enjoy God and how we can get there.
The Heidelberg Catechism
In the 16th century, a leader in the Reformed Church in Germany named Frederick III commissioned the creation of a document called the Heidelberg Catechism, which emerged as a beacon of clarity and comfort during a tumultuous time during the Reformation. This catechism, with its profound simplicity, directs us toward the essence of our existence and purpose:
"The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."
This statement is not just a theological axiom; it is a pathway to a life imbued with meaning and joy, highlighting the dual call to honor God and take delight in His presence perpetually.
The Joyful Pursuit
To enjoy God signifies an invitation to a journey of deep satisfaction and delight in His presence, underpinned by a relationship marked by both speaking and listening. This journey is affirmed and guided by the truths of Scripture.
Finding Delight in His Presence
David expresses this sentiment in Psalm 16:11: "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." To enjoy God is to actively seek and savor His omnipresence in every facet of our lives, recognizing His nearness in moments both serene and challenging.
No mean old man in David's eyes--just the fullness of joy and eternal pleasures.
The Multifaceted Joy of God
The Jewish leader Nehemiah articulated how we can gain strength from joy in the Lord:
This joy encompasses a peace that surpasses understanding, strength from His eternal faithfulness, and comfort in His unchanging nature.
Other Verses about Enjoying God
During His scandalous conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus invites her (and us) to authentic worship of God, thereby enabling us to experience the profound joy of communion with Him:
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
Along those lines, and returning to King David, in Psalm 19, he points out that the heavens' declaration of God's glory invites us to marvel at His creation, experiencing joy in the intricate beauty and vastness of His work:
The renowned English Olympian and missionary Eric Liddell (made famous in the movie "Chariots of Fire") once said, "When God made me, He made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure." Liddell's words capture the essence of enjoying God through our unique gifts and passions.
Just as Liddell felt God's pleasure in his running, we are invited to discover and embrace the activities and pursuits through which we can feel God's pleasure. Whether through art, music, being in nature, serving our family or friends, or countless other pursuits, any endeavor that aligns with our God-given talents can pull us effortlessly into the place of enjoying God.
Enjoying God Forever
The call to enjoy God is an invitation to an ongoing discovery of His character, an exploration that enriches our lives and deepens our joy. This eternal enjoyment is at the heart of the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10, marking a journey filled with the joy that sustains, renews, and empowers us:
In striving to enjoy God, let us immerse ourselves in the joy of knowing and truly experiencing Him. This joy not only shapes our lives but also serves as a testament to the depth of God's love for us—a love that invites us to delight in His presence now and forevermore.
Enjoying God is worship, and worship is a space where we express our gratitude to the Giver of all good things.
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