This book has been shaping me in these areas, and for that, I'm excited. As I see areas where sanctification is greatly needed, I find rest in the truth that I am justified based on what Jesus has done.
The recent realization of my personal lack of zeal for the glory of God arose while reading another book (Gospel by J.D. Greear)> I considered my reasoning to rejecting sin, and saw that it was far too often based on fear of man (what others think) or fear of what I would think of myself, rather than on dishonoring God (understanding that ultimately I cannot take the glory from God, but that in some way, he is dishonored when I do not glorify him). Ultimately, the glory of God is revealed on the cross, where his attributes are on full, lovely display. His love in giving his Son and the Son dying for us, His wrath against sin poured out upon Jesus, His holiness shown in his wrath towards sin. Oh, we may look at the cross and see that he is such a lovely God. Yes, he is such a beautiful God. And he is a God who is passionate about his glory! He will not give it to another (Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 48:11)! Okay... there's more. It's just so good. His glory is at the same time good for his people! So his people benefit and rejoice when God is glorified. That's where we find happiness! What?! His glory, and our good!
Oh, my affections. I yearn for the day when they are aright. That day will come. When my heart will be easily affected by what it should be affected by (paraphrase from J. Edwards). Right now, I cry during in a movie, but I yawn during a sermon. Ouch. I'm grateful that the process of sanctification includes my emotions. My specific prayer has been that the Spirit of God would imprint the gospel deeper into my soul, and that by so doing, my affections would be upon Jesus Christ who has borne the whole wrath of God in my place! And it is very clear that over the past five years (five years!) he has been increasingly doing so. As I look on the cross, I see Jesus who took all of my sin on the cross and all the wrath of God, and I see the God-man who lived a life of perfect obedience to the law that I am required to live but cannot. Yet, because the corrupted nature of humanity is to hate God, I need the grace of God to make me love Him. And he has been doing it!
The cross turns my affections upon Jesus, and it displays the glory of God in all of it's splendor. Here are a few quotes from Piper in his book.
"The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted." Jonathan Edwards The End for Which God Created the World
"The end of the creation is that the creation might glorify [God]. Now what is glorifying God, but a rejoicing at that glory he has displayed?" "The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted." Jonathan Edwards
"...If God's glory is the only all-satisfying reality in the universe, then to try to do good for people, without aiming to show them the glory of God and ignte in them a delight in God, would be like treating fever with cold packs when you have penicillin." John Piper God's Passion for His Glory.
What joy we have as children of God to rejoice in His glory for now and eternity!
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