I have been wrestling with a Biblical Truth recently that has profoundly impacted the way I view the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has been a Truth that has been foundational to following and loving Jesus, and being loved by Him! This Truth is no stranger to history or reality. It is at the very essence in purpose and eternal meaning.
Seeing my life, and more importantly, the Gospel of God, in light of this Truth has changed everything!
As I reflect on the last few weeks of my life, I have seen the Lord bring this Truth to the light in my life.
It can be summarized in the words of Dr. John Piper, “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him!” Or as Dr. Piper states in the preface of his book, The Pleasures of God, “I ask people wherever I go: Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you to enjoy making much of him?” (11).
…as I sift the scriptures, I see the writers of the Bible enthralled by the glory and supremacy of God, and seek utmost delight and satisfaction IN Him.
The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians chapter one, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and BE WITH CHRIST, for that is very much better…”
God, being the greatest and most supreme Source of joy and delight, is utmost in His own affections (this is discussed at length in Piper’s book, The Pleasures of God).
The Apostle Paul yearns to be in the presence of Jesus, and to drink from His divine fountain of delight. So my happiness and God’s glory are no longer at odds or competing with one another, but rather in their consummation, God is glorified and we enjoy Him in His glory – FOREVER.
This magnifies God’s love in sending Christ, His death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection. It is a display of God’s infinite glory and beauty in orchestrating the redemption of His people. It is an immense display of His love for people, by calling them unto Himself, calling them to come and drink from this infinite joy.
“Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23).
“If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37).
I must be careful not make the end of the gospel myself. It is not ULTIMATELY about MY salvation or MY relationship with God. Rather the gospel is a magnificent display of the glory of God and Him magnifying that glory through the redemption of His people by the cross of Christ and the victorious resurrection. So Jesus is our great reward!
I pray I remember this often, for I am far too often guilty of idolatry, in that I make the gospel about me. It is not… yet how gracious is our Father in heaven to allow us to enter into His joy, His delight, His excellencies…FOR ETERNITY!?!
Grace and Peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Him be the Glory and Honor and Power FOREVER!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Discipline of God
“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor be weary when reproved by him.
"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
*Hebrews 12:5-11.
This year of college (being my sophomore year) has had its share of trials, sorrow, dark nights and hard days. I have seen the Lord press into my life and absolutely destroy me of myself and restore me again and again unto HIM. This kind of refining in my soul has been difficult but not absent from experiencing the love of God.
I heard said once, that “…if you think this whole walking with Jesus thing was going to be easy then you are completely wrong…” – I’ve bought into that lie far too many times, which allows me to fall into traps of accusation of, disappointment in and indifference toward the Almighty God. Yes, I am guilty of blasphemy in all of this and if it were not for the eternal grace of Jesus, I would be owned by my shame in it all.
But I know that I love and serve a God that is “…greater than our hearts…” (1 John 3:20). This gives me great confidence in the work of Christ, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit and the DISCIPLINE OF THE FATHER! I hope in the joy of God.
I have come to see that the refining of our hearts is not an iron-fisted, angry and frustrated response of God toward our human condition, but rather a great and deep expression of God’s love for His children and His invitation into great joy and delight!
I’ll admit it, I don’t like it. God’s breaking us of ourselves hurts…a lot! But if I proceed to be son that does not receive discipline from my Father, than I am an illegitimate child.
I’ve come to understand this in the context of relationships that I have with others, and have gratitude for my parent’s love expressed in their discipline. If your child is running in the streets, is it not a great love that compels you to rebuke and discipline them. We know that discipline of God trains us in godliness and is even more a great expression of the Father’s love and care His children.
So please God, discipline me…for I am futile in my own ways.
Friends, do not take lightly the discipline of our Father. I would be lying if I said that it did not hurt, but God intends it to lead us into joy – into His presence.
“…if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” – Jesus (John 7:37b)
May those who read this see the eternal and unsurpassable love our God and in His disciplining of those that belong to Him. He is leading us into joy, leading us to delighting in Him. This is the appointed end of those in Christ, to find infinite joy and complete satisfaction in God.
Grace and Peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Him be the Glory and Honor and Power FOREVER!
"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
*Hebrews 12:5-11.
This year of college (being my sophomore year) has had its share of trials, sorrow, dark nights and hard days. I have seen the Lord press into my life and absolutely destroy me of myself and restore me again and again unto HIM. This kind of refining in my soul has been difficult but not absent from experiencing the love of God.
I heard said once, that “…if you think this whole walking with Jesus thing was going to be easy then you are completely wrong…” – I’ve bought into that lie far too many times, which allows me to fall into traps of accusation of, disappointment in and indifference toward the Almighty God. Yes, I am guilty of blasphemy in all of this and if it were not for the eternal grace of Jesus, I would be owned by my shame in it all.
But I know that I love and serve a God that is “…greater than our hearts…” (1 John 3:20). This gives me great confidence in the work of Christ, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit and the DISCIPLINE OF THE FATHER! I hope in the joy of God.
I have come to see that the refining of our hearts is not an iron-fisted, angry and frustrated response of God toward our human condition, but rather a great and deep expression of God’s love for His children and His invitation into great joy and delight!
I’ll admit it, I don’t like it. God’s breaking us of ourselves hurts…a lot! But if I proceed to be son that does not receive discipline from my Father, than I am an illegitimate child.
I’ve come to understand this in the context of relationships that I have with others, and have gratitude for my parent’s love expressed in their discipline. If your child is running in the streets, is it not a great love that compels you to rebuke and discipline them. We know that discipline of God trains us in godliness and is even more a great expression of the Father’s love and care His children.
So please God, discipline me…for I am futile in my own ways.
Friends, do not take lightly the discipline of our Father. I would be lying if I said that it did not hurt, but God intends it to lead us into joy – into His presence.
“…if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” – Jesus (John 7:37b)
May those who read this see the eternal and unsurpassable love our God and in His disciplining of those that belong to Him. He is leading us into joy, leading us to delighting in Him. This is the appointed end of those in Christ, to find infinite joy and complete satisfaction in God.
Grace and Peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Him be the Glory and Honor and Power FOREVER!
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