Delighting in the Saints

by Victoria Gaines
Published March 13, 2007

"The closer you are to the Lord, the closer you will be to other believers." ~ Peter Jeffrey

"As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight." ~ Psalm 16:3 (NASB)

The word "saints" refers to God's people. The apostle Paul referred to Christians as saints in nearly every letter he wrote. But he didn't mean folks who've gone on to heaven. Look at Psalm 16:3 again. The Psalmist calls his fellow believers the "saints who are in the earth." That's those of us, right now, who call on the name of Christ and live by His Word.

As I continue Donald Whitney's wonderful book, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, my heart zeroes in on this particular statement:

"God doesn't keep the world turning so that we can do more business, make more money, and buy more things. Rather, God keeps the planet in motion because He has not finished the work of the church, that is, building the kingdom of His Son."

This is God's purpose and ought to be ours, too, Whitney says. As we grow more like Christ, our spiritual eyes discern the "splendor and value of the work of the church versus the things that are passing away." As we mature in Him, we grow past lip service to deeply involve ourselves in the work of Christ's church because we see the Bride of Christ like He does.

Which brings us to our spiritual checkpoint: Do you delight in Bride of Christ?

Do you find ways to demonstrate your delight? Do you rejoice in His people? Have you found ways to devote your time, energy, money, and efforts to His work? When we truly delight in God's people and purposes, we're eager to minister.

"For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Hebrews 6:10).

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