The Smile of God: A Gospel Reality
As Christians, we often begin our day with a sense of duty, hoping to earn God’s approval through our actions. We read our Bibles, pray for missionaries, and thank Him for our blessings, believing that these efforts will bring a smile to His face. However, this thinking is far removed from the Gospel we claimed to believe on the day of our salvation.
A Misconceived Notion
The truth is, God’s pleasure in us has nothing to do with our daily performance. It’s not about what we do for Him, but rather what Christ did for us. The Gospel is not limited to the day of our salvation; it’s a reality that should shape every moment of our lives. Jesus’ cry on the Cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” echoes through eternity, reminding us that our sin was placed upon Him, and God’s wrath was poured out – the very wrath we deserved.
The Reason Behind God’s Forsaking
But why did God turn His back on His own Son? It was so that He could smile upon us, despite our daily failures and shortcomings. Our sin was judged on the Cross, and now God looks upon us with pleasure, not because of our actions, but because of Christ’s sacrifice. As 1 Peter 2:24 reminds us, “His own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.”
A Joyful Response
So, how do we respond to this Gospel reality? We smile back at God, not through forced obedience or ritualistic practices, but through a joyful surrender to His love. Our Christian “performance” is not about earning God’s approval, but about living out the righteousness that Christ has already secured for us. In this freedom, we can truly experience the smile of God, knowing that His pleasure in us is based solely on the finished work of Christ.
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