Is God vain?
This past week Piper made us think through the question, "Is God vain?" If God does all things for His own glory, if He is self-exalting isn't that vain? In answer to this he pointed out a few things:
1. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. This means we give God glory when we find Him as all sufficient in our lives, when we find our joy, happiness, contentment, and our everything in Him. Example: Let's say a husband gives his wife a bouquet of flowers and his wife says we a huge smile on her face "You shouldn't have!" Let's say in response to that he says, "Well..Its my duty." Do you think her knees will buckle and her heart will melt at that response? No! (If you don't believe me ask your mother!) Now let's change it up and say that he responds, "Honey, it was my pleasure, nothing would bring me more delight then bringing a smile to your face and have the supreme privilege of enjoying your presence this evening." Now that will melt her heart! You see when he delighted in her and was satisfied in her that made much of her. That is how we MOST glorify God, when we delight in Him over everything else and we are satisfied in Him and nothing else.
2. The most loving thing God can do is give us Himself. Example: Let's say you are the biggest Michael Jordan fan in the world. Let's say the thing that would bring you the most happiness is to spend a day with MJ and play hoops with you. Though knowing this MJ decides I am not going to do it because I don't want to make too much of myself so I will just send him a mirror. Ok, which one is more loving? A mirror or MJ himself? The same is true with God, if He is the greatest thing of infinite worth and joy which bring infinite joy and happiness, isn't it more loving for God to glorify himself by giving Himself to us? YES! Remember: What will satisfy your soul most deeply? Himself If God doesn'tÂt give you this he does not love you! That is why it is not vain, it is the most LOVING thing he can do for us. Piper said, "We were not made for mirrors  we were made for standing in front of what is infinitely beautiful"
Look at John 11 where because Jesus loved them, he waited 2 DAYS and leLazarusus DIE so that He could show them His glory, thus the most loving thing He could do for them was not immediately heal him, but to let Him die that He might raise him with power so that they might see His glory.
Application
1. How do we magnify God, like a Telescope or a microscope? Why?
2. Can you think of same ways you can show your friends, family, peers, etc that God is so awesome that nothing compares to Him? (for example how can you show that with your money, stuff, words, actions, etc)
3. What will satisfy us most deeply? So why are your spending your time, energy and resources for that which won't?
1. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. This means we give God glory when we find Him as all sufficient in our lives, when we find our joy, happiness, contentment, and our everything in Him. Example: Let's say a husband gives his wife a bouquet of flowers and his wife says we a huge smile on her face "You shouldn't have!" Let's say in response to that he says, "Well..Its my duty." Do you think her knees will buckle and her heart will melt at that response? No! (If you don't believe me ask your mother!) Now let's change it up and say that he responds, "Honey, it was my pleasure, nothing would bring me more delight then bringing a smile to your face and have the supreme privilege of enjoying your presence this evening." Now that will melt her heart! You see when he delighted in her and was satisfied in her that made much of her. That is how we MOST glorify God, when we delight in Him over everything else and we are satisfied in Him and nothing else.
2. The most loving thing God can do is give us Himself. Example: Let's say you are the biggest Michael Jordan fan in the world. Let's say the thing that would bring you the most happiness is to spend a day with MJ and play hoops with you. Though knowing this MJ decides I am not going to do it because I don't want to make too much of myself so I will just send him a mirror. Ok, which one is more loving? A mirror or MJ himself? The same is true with God, if He is the greatest thing of infinite worth and joy which bring infinite joy and happiness, isn't it more loving for God to glorify himself by giving Himself to us? YES! Remember: What will satisfy your soul most deeply? Himself If God doesn'tÂt give you this he does not love you! That is why it is not vain, it is the most LOVING thing he can do for us. Piper said, "We were not made for mirrors  we were made for standing in front of what is infinitely beautiful"
Look at John 11 where because Jesus loved them, he waited 2 DAYS and leLazarusus DIE so that He could show them His glory, thus the most loving thing He could do for them was not immediately heal him, but to let Him die that He might raise him with power so that they might see His glory.
Application
1. How do we magnify God, like a Telescope or a microscope? Why?
2. Can you think of same ways you can show your friends, family, peers, etc that God is so awesome that nothing compares to Him? (for example how can you show that with your money, stuff, words, actions, etc)
3. What will satisfy us most deeply? So why are your spending your time, energy and resources for that which won't?
posted by FeFiFoPhil | 8:22 AM
3 Comments:
I love the telescope idea. It seems that is exactly what God wants of me...that truly is making much of God. Sometimes I have trouble getting out of the way so God can do His thing. I have trouble sometimes seeing what God's plan is. I'm sure if I had lived in Lazarus's day that I would have been angry that Jesus didn't come sooner. Now I just want to see Him in each little thing in my life. JE
i learned that if we are more satisied in God, He will be more glorified. it's amazing to see how much John Piper knows and can teach other people about God.
I learned so much from the Piper sessions it really helped me alot. thanks so much 4 bringing those sessions to us phil i really learned how 2 grow more in jesus THANKS!!
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