And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1:31
My son looks like me. He is only three years old, but we share the same eyes, facial expressions, even personality type (we think!). When I see him, I see a reflection of myself. The same, yet all together different. There is a unique delight that comes when looking at a smaller version of yourself.
Every child needs to hear, experience, and embrace certain things from their parents. “I love you.” “I am proud of you.” “I enjoy you.” Without these affirmations of affection, a child becomes insecure in their view of themselves and others. When those who are meant to shower you with God-given desires for security, don’t, psychologists call this “insecure attachment.”
God, as a good dad, esteems his children highly.
God has a unique delight in us, unlike anything else in his creation. He not only created us to be his agents of authority, but the objects of his love.
Before humanity had done anything good or bad, right or wrong, God declared over them his enjoyment. In the Hebrew language, to emphasize an idea, you simply repeat it. Here, God surveys all of creation with his image bearers at the pinnacle of his delight and declares, “It was very good,” literally—“It was good, good.”
When God sees you, he sees a reflection of himself. We are little versions of him. And since God delights in himself, God delights in you.
When you look at yourself in the mirror, you are meant to see this beautiful mix of dignity, creativity, and beauty. You are meant to see someone who God delights in (because he does!).
Yet, it simply feels too good to be true. Knowing your own sins and shortcomings, a lie becomes buried deep into our souls that says, “This can’t be. Not with my background. Not with my shortcomings. Who could love me this way?”
Answer: The God who is love.
You see, the moment when you begin to experience the love of God that “feels too good to be true” is the moment you are just scratching the surface of the love God has for you.
God has extended his love for you in his Son. When Jesus came on the scene, just like humanity in creation, God declared his love, joy, and delight over him.
“And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17)
Before Jesus began his earthly ministry, the Father declared his love, joy, and delight in his Son. It is from that secure position in his relationship with the Father that Jesus was able to move out on mission for the Father.
It is from the delight of God in us that we are able to walk in the design that God commands of us and the duty he calls us into. That delight God has for you is because of the delight God has in his Son. He extends it to you as a gift of grace.
So when you look in the mirror next, no matter who you see before you, dwell on this wonderful truth: your Father delights in you.
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