God Loves Our Changed Lives (1)

God accepts the graces of his children, and delights in them.
(1) Because they are the fruit that comes from his children, his spouse, his friend. Love of the person wins acceptance of that which is presented from the person. What comes from love is lovingly taken.
(2) They are the graces of his Spirit. If we have anything that is good, all comes from the Spirit, who is first in Christ and then in us. Christ sees his own face, beauty, glory, in his church; he looks in love upon her, and always with his looks conveys grace and comfort. Christ loves the reflection of his own graces in his children and accepts them.
(3) His kindness is such that he accepts all. Both we ourselves are sacrifices, and what we offer is a sacrifice acceptable to God, through him that offered himself as a sacrifice of sweet-smelling savour. God accepts of Christ first, and then of us, and what comes from us in him. We may boldly pray, 'Lord, remember all our offerings, and accept all our sacrifices' (Psa. 20:3). Paul does will us 'to offer up ourselves a holy and acceptable sacrifice to God' (Rom. 12:1), when we are once in Christ. In the Old Testament we have many manifestations of this acceptance. He accepted the sacrifice of Abel, as it is thought, by fire from heaven, and so the sacrifices of Elijah and Solomon by fire (1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chron. 21:26). So, in the New Testament he showed his acceptance of the disciples meeting together, by the sound of a mighty wind, and then filling them with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3). But now the declaration of the acceptance of our persons, graces, and sacrifices that we offer to him, is most in peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Spirit, and from a holy fire of love kindled by the Spirit, whereby our sacrifices are burned. In the incense of prayer, how many sweet spices are burned together by this fire of faith; as humility and patience in submitting to God's will, hope of a gracious answer, holiness, and love to others.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 42-43
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