What could possibly cause an all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever present God to react in pure delight? Can anything excite God or give Him pleasure?
Quite simply, YES! Hebrews 11:6 states: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.”
Throughout His life on Earth, Jesus encountered all sorts of people—Pharisees, Sadducees, widows, children, rich men, poor men, fisherman, tax collectors, among many others. But whom did He ever praise or compliment? What kind of person made an impression on Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords?
Was it the person who knew every letter of the law or the person who committed the fewest sins? Not by a long-shot! Jesus wasn’t moved by a person’s high status or seemingly “spotless” record. He was moved by ordinary people with extraordinary faith. Let’s take a look at a case in point—the Canaanite woman with a demon-possessed daughter in Matthew 15:21-28:
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Isn’t Jesus wonderful? At first glance, one might think Jesus was being unresponsive or even rude to this lady. But He wasn’t. He was drawing out her faith like water from a well, and giving her the chance to show the world what was already in her heart.
This woman knew who Jesus was. She knew that He could heal her daughter in an instant regardless of her family blood line. Faith does not exist in this earthly realm. It is not constricted by the limitations of the natural laws of reason. It goes way beyond our understanding. If we could figure everything out, why would we even need to exercise faith in God?
I think that’s why God is moved by our faith in Him. When we come to the end of ourselves and come to Him in total faith no matter what the circumstances look like even when it seems like God is not responding to us, He loves it. When we exercise our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are receiving the rich and glorious inheritance for which He paid dearly for us to freely enjoy.
It cost God everything to give us eternal life. Jesus shed His precious blood, and we are redeemed from the curse. Let us hold fast to the faith we profess, and draw ever closer to God, our loving Father.
