Pity, Complacency and Delight

License: CC0 Public Domain

Pity, complacency, and delight. That's what I'm rooting for today.

But I should back up. 

I read John 2:23-25 (ESV) this morning during my devotions: "Now when he [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man."

Jesus didn't trust these people because he "knew what was in man." He knew their motivations, their secrets, their desires.

Does that make you squirm the same way it makes me squirm?

He also knew their faith wasn't genuine.

But what about those who genuinely believe, but still fall short? Here's what Adam Clarke says in his commentary:

“He knows who are sincere, and who are hypocritical: he knows those in whom he can confide, and those to whom he can neither trust himself nor his gifts. Reader, he also knows thee: thy cares, fears, perplexities, temptations, afflictions, desires, and hopes; thy helps and hinderances; the progress thou hast made in the Divine life, or thy declension from it. If he know thee to be hypocritical or iniquitous, he looks upon thee with abhorrence: if he know thee to be of a meek and broken spirit, he looks on thee with pity, complacency, and delight. Take courage - thou canst say, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I do love thee, and mourn because I love and serve thee so little: then expect him to come in unto thee, and make his abode with thee: while thy eye and heart are simple, he will love thee, and thy whole soul shall be full of light. To him be glory and dominion for ever!”

It's hard not to pray the prayer at the end, isn't it?