O our God, listen to the prayer
of your servant and to his pleas
for mercy, and for your own sake,
O Lord, make your face to shine upon
your sanctuary, which is desolate.
Daniel 9:17
Both in my Bible study group, and personal quiet time, both in my reading and my struggling, I am finding myself face to face with this doctine. God loves God. He does what He does, for HIS sake. Daniel pleads with Him for forgiveness, for himself and his nation - for God's sake. Daniel believes God is motivated by a love for Himself, by a desire to protect His name, to appear all-glorious. And he is right.
How much less then, can I seek to glorify God? If God is uppermost in His thoughts, should He not be uppermost in mine? We live in a man-centered society, and in man-centered churches. We pay lip-service to the idea of God - but do we really seek His glory in all things? And, what does that look like?
I thought Piper was nuts when I read a sermon of his, where he was frustrated at his enjoyment of his computer, without thinking about how it related to God's glory. He was not thinking about his Lord in that moment, and that bothered him. And, at the time, I dismissed Piper's level of passion as extreme, unneccessary and impractical. Good for Piper - but do not expect me to feel that way too. I have a real life.....
I am getting it now. It is a tough lesson to learn. Sometimes I resent it. (sin that that is!) I want to want what I want. Halo, my latest novel, riding a motorcycle, playing poker.... can I not just enjoy these things, without thinking about God? Happy in my mudpuddle then, aren't I?
We start with this false premise. ME. How do I want to spend my day? What should I do today? How can I serve God today? But - think on God, on His holiness, His majesty... the wonder of Him creating billions of stars in a moment, with a word. He is soooo amazing! And, I have the amazing priviledge, of standing in His court, covered in the blood of His Son, being declared righteous by His grace alone.
Charles Wesley said it so beautifully in 1738:
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.’
Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!’
Tis mercy all, immense and free,
O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Start with God. Not yourself. Fall, prostrate at His feet. Be amazed. And, SEE! the wonders He will perform, when you glorify Him foremost in your thoughts.
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