I want to call your attention to the Westminster Shorter Catechism for today. It reads:
Q. 1.What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
It is the first question in the catechism which is fitting to be on the first day of this year. May we remember what our purpose is: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! Amen.
10 comments:
Ah, yes the first question in the catechism. I wish someone would have taught me this question when I was a young Lad. Most reformed churches and parents start teaching children the catechism around age seven. Wow! that means most seven year old reformed children are more theologicaly astute than most adults I have met who cannot answer Man's chief end let alone God's chief end.
" The chief end of God is to glorify God and enjoy himself forever"
"God employs his soverignty to display the great object of his delight, his GLORY, the beauty of his manifold perfections. He does all that he does to magnify the worth of his glory. He would be untighteous if he valued anything more than what is supremely valuable, namely, himself" John Piper
Good stuff Julianne
It's good to be reminded of this. I love Piper's twist; recognizing that the question is singular and not plural, and thus the answer of glorifying God and enjoying God are not two separate things, but that we glorify God BY enjoying Him.
Dear God, enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we might see your beauty more clearly and enjoy you more and more, and thus draw attention to (glorifying) what is most valuable and beautiful and satisfying, so that others may also glorify you in their enjoyment of you.
very true, sounds like a good way to start the new year!
I just half to come back to this again and let this one article provide some comfort as my new year didn't start too well.
cool blogspot. encouraging. I think Piper has had a pervasive impact on this upcoming generation, has made this great truth more understood in the youth culture, and has been a herold for the gospel like no other--not to mention one who makes calvinism look attractive (which, sad to say, has hardly been done by the reformed circles I know).
Question: Is the worship of God and the love of God (that is loving God) the same thing? What do you guys think?
Amen to all the above. : )
I'm kinda excited about the end! Ha!
Hi Bradley,
Thanks for stopping by. I agree with your statement on Piper. It seems he is very consistent with how he views God and how he views missions and humanity. As calvinists, we should all want this same passion for the lost. This is very much lacking in the Reformed church today.
"Question: Is the worship of God and the love of God (that is loving God) the same thing? What do you guys think?"
Is loving something worshipping it? I think it is. However, is worship something more than just love?
Love:
a. A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
b. A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.
c. An intense emotional attachment, as for a pet or treasured object.
d. A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.
e. An expression of one's affection: Send him my love.
f. A strong predilection or enthusiasm: a love of language.
Wor.ship:
a. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
b. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
c. Ardent devotion; adoration.
Jo and Jes,
It's so good to see you guys again. How are you? Please stick around, you're my only female commenters. God bless!
Juli :)
Why don't you ask Rufus? He seems to know about medical stuff.
Post a Comment