Delightful

It’s waiting time again in our family—a new baby coming to bring the number of our grandchildren to five. Modern technology says it is a boy; and on paper, he is due at the end of November. We are thinking he will come sooner, especially since this is baby #2. Whenever he comes, it will be in his or His time.

Pondering the upcoming occasion, I thought of how excited our family and the other grandparents as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins are. Isn’t it sad that sometimes the impending birth of a baby does not bring happy anticipation? Sometimes pregnancy can come about merely through careless behavior or at inopportune times. Sometimes a difficult family situation is seen as harder because of a new mouth to feed, etc. Sometimes couples have prayed for and cried for a baby only to find it difficult to conceive.

Considering the wide variety of reactions to the birth of a newborn, I thought about the reactions to being “born again.” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” We actually know what some reactions are, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.”

Isn’t that good to know? Whether or not there was rejoicing over our birth on earth, there is rejoicing in heaven over our re-birth. I do believe the Father is as excited over His children as we are over our new baby (and the other ones already here).

In fact in Zephaniah 3 it says, “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."

How cool is that! Did you notice that “great delight” thing, and don’t you love the picture of God rejoicing over us with singing? That is good news—God thinks we are delightful!