For my name's sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

For my name's sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. Isaiah 48:9-11

This afternoon, I continued with John Piper's book Holy Ambition.  My focus today is on chapter four A Rescue Mission from Glory to Gladness, pages 68-82. Here, Piper uses a modified version of question one from the Westminster Catechism to define the chief end of missions. He ultimately lands on a definition where the chief end of missions is the "supremacy of God in the joy of all peoples." We are urged to see the supremacy of God and the joy of all peoples as inseparable - they rise and fall together.  Piper wants us to go out into the world and reach and save the lost so that God is exalted through the joy of those being saved. Of course the starting point here is that we exist to glorify God and God's exaltation is magnified through our satisfaction and joy in Him.  Piper points to the many examples where scripture supports this view.  For example, Piper points to Psalms:

• Psalm 47:1
• Psalm 66:1-2
• Psalm 67:3-4
• Psalm 68:32
• Psalm 96:1
• Psalm 97:1
• Psalm 98:4
• Psalm 100:1
  

In response to those who claim that God might be better off being exalted through our trust, or obedience, he writes that "[i]sn't the answer that the essence of faith and obedience and life-and indeed all genuine spiritual experience-is the enjoyment of God in [the acts of obedience, trust, etc.], such that if you remove the enjoyment of God from them, they cease to be God-exalting acts?"

Again as a backdrop to the purpose of this book - to help believers define and pursue a holy ambition as Paul does - is only rightly understood, if we are to pursue missions, when we fully understand the chief end of missions.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God, worthy of my praise and worship as Your creation is amazing and I know You are in all things.  You came to save me, even though I was an enemy of God - You still saved me.  I am grateful but undeserving.  I have sinned greatly and continue to do so - worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.