Hebrews 2:9, Philippians 2:7-9, and Revelation 5:12
...[B]eing found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name[.] Philippians 2:8-9
I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. While Holy Week and Easter have passed, I do want to read to completion John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #49: So That He Would Be Crowned with Glory and Honor. The devotion today explores Piper's premise that he thinks many find as vanity: that Jesus would die to bring attention to Himself. Piper opens by referring us to John 17:5, where the text describes how Jesus prays the night before He went to the cross that He be glorified "with the glory [He] had with [the Father] before the world existed." Hebrews 2:9, Philippians 2:8-9, and Revelation 5:12 are then provided as text to show how the Father affirmatively responded to this prayer. Piper states: "[Christ's] glory was the reward of his suffering." At this point, Piper responds to those who might see this act of self-glorification as vanity. Piper shares that people erroneously assume that love is the result of "being made much of" - what he calls self-saturation. Yet he challenges this by explaining that "[o]ur happiest moments have not been self-saturated moments, but self-forgetful moments." These moments are filled with awe and wonder based on displays of majesty - "but not ours." Examples of such displays include what we experience in nature. Piper then states that humanity was made for something greater then self-saturation as he moves his emphasis to Christ: "[i]f we are to be as happy as we can be, we must see and savor the most glorious person of all, Jesus Christ himself. This means that to love us, Jesus must seek the fullness of his glory and offer it to us for our enjoyment." We are then encouraged to read John 17:24. Piper then concludes the devotion by sharing: "Love is the labor—whatever the cost—of helping people be enthralled with what will satisfy them most, namely, Jesus Christ. That is how Jesus loves." Amen - be satisfied above all by Christ!
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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me....giving me Your Son Jesus Christ so that I could be filled with awe and wonder, joy, and most importantly, so that I can be saved! Thank You! I am not deserving of these blessings and my salvation. My sin is great and it continues daily. 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 continue to 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.
