Delight - by Ben Bonython

Pastor Ted Lang wrote this paragraph in his 1999 annual report:

‘Children are a heritage from the Lord and the greatest delight I have had in my time as Pastor has been to see the growth in family life and the desire of many parents to be equipped to train their children in the ways and discipline of the God.’

As we reflect on Father’s Day, and of all the things a Father might delight in, our dear brother and Pastor Ted Lang has offered a glimpse into the heart of our heavenly Father, even as Ted himself speaks of his own delight.  Notice our heavenly Father delights in us saying in Psalms 18:19 that [Father God] brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

Just as Ted expressed delight, the Lord delights in us saying For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.  (Psalm 149:4)  In Zephaniah 3:17, the Word says that:  The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

A mark of Fatherhood is the delight we have in those we care for and love, those we support and cheer and those we lay our lives down for.

There are moments when we wonder how could God love us?  Yet we read that the Lord is patient with us in 2 Peter 3:9 which says The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

The heart of our heavenly Father is that no one would perish and not have life with Him as spoken in Ezekiel 18:32 and in John 3:17:

“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” and “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The heart of our heavenly Father is one that desire us to grow in knowing Him and to desire His teachings and guidance and wisdom recognising that the Lord’s steadfast love is better than life itself (Psalm 63:3).  Perhaps clearest reflection of the heart of what Ted shared in his report echoes Psalm 119:9-16 speaking of the delight His children have in following God:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?  By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.  With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.  I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.  I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.  I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Maybe a way for us to celebrate Fatherhood is to really delight in the Lord and in His ways afresh.And pass that delight onto others, that we too might witness another generation seeking the Lord.Therefore may we share our own delight of witnessing others loving to follow the Lord.