Christ takes great joy in His Church and loves to see her beauty. Just like a bird returns to its nest and a traveler hurries home, our minds focus on what we cherish. We love to look at the face of the one we adore and keep our treasures always near. This is true of Jesus as well.

From eternity past, "His delights were with the sons of men." He thought ahead to the time when His chosen ones would be born, viewing them with His foreknowledge. "In Your book," He says, "were all my members written before any of them existed" (Ps. 139:16). He was there when the world was founded, setting boundaries for the nations.

Before becoming flesh, He often came to earth in human form, meeting His people at places like the plains of Mamre, by the brook of Jabbok, near Jericho, and in Babylon's furnace. His soul was filled with delight for them, so He longed to be near. Our names are always on His heart, etched into His hands and side, like the high priest's breastplate bearing the names of Israel's tribes—Christ's precious jewels.

We may forget to think of His perfection, but He never forgets us. Let's correct our forgetfulness and ask for grace to remember Him fondly. Lord, engrave the image of Your Son upon my soul.