Jesus Delights in Us

One day I was thinking about Jesus and our sinfulness, and I was pondering how he looks at us in our sin.  Suddenly I had a vision (not like “heaven opened up” or anything – just a picture in my mind) of Jesus looking over his shoulder at me, smiling big, then laughing.  I realized he wasn’t looking at my sin.  At all.  It wasn’t on his radar.  He was just looking at me and enjoying my company.  What a realization!

We all know the Bible says God will “remember your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25 and Hebrews 8:12), but comprehending what that signifies in our relationship with him is hard for us humans to grasp.  Does it mean He actually forgets every sin we’ve committed?  I don’t know if he totally forgets – after all, He’s omniscient – but it’s clear from these verses that it’s not on his mind.  He’s not evaluating me by my moral performance, He’s not waiting for me to figure it out or get better, He’s not keeping an eye on me to make sure I don’t mess up.  None of that.  He’s just here for the joy of the relationship.  That wonderful verse in Zephaniah 3:17 embodies this:  “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”  If you’ve ever loved anything unconditionally – a child, a pet, a forever friend – you have an inkling of this feeling.  You enjoy the loved one so much you just want to be together.  You take delight in their company.  But Jesus actually has the power to enjoy us and see us and not see any of our sins.  Let’s remember that “He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.”  Isaiah 40:11.