June 30, 2001
"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth--
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Isaiah 43:6-7
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"
Psalm 37:4
God never wanted a heartless obedience from us, he has always desired a rich relationship. We were created for his glory and to bring glory to him which we do best when we delight in him. It's certainly my tendency to complicate my life and to get lost in all the 'things' I need to do but really all God wants is for me to slow down and delight in him. Take the time to really know him and see him... loving someone or something naturally causes an overflow from our hearts in praise which completes the experience for us. We naturally share about a great meal, book or movie that we've seen... something in telling others helps us to savor the experience. We get joy in knowing God... as we praise him in prayer and as we share that with others it completes our joy in him!
"We were made to be prisms refracting the light of God's glory into all of life.
Why God would want to give us a share in shining with his glory is a great mystery."
from Desiring God, John Piper
"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith,
so that you will have a full understanding
of every good thing we have in Christ."
Philemon 6