For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

 Chapter 12: Pages 158-166, Ephesians 1:4-7

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:4-8

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", moving to Section 3 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the Design and Enactment of the New Covenant" - moving to chapter twelve "Christ's Foundational Act in Establishing the New Covenant". 

Piper starts by quoting both Luke (Luke 22:20) and Matthew (Matthew 26:28) from the Last Supper to establish that Christs suffering and death on the cross "was the foundational step in enacting the new covenant." He then contrasts the first and second covenant using Hebrews 9:7, 15, 22 and 10:4 to underscore how Jesus "is responsible for putting the second covenant into effect." 

Piper builds on this to state that Christ's death and resurrection is not only the ground for the second covenant but also the goal - quoting Romans 4:25; Piper's description is that He is both the "price" and the "prize". Piper of course extends this to emphasize that "the ultimate goal of God in his saving providence-namely the praise of the glory of his grace-was achieved through the suffering of the Son of God, who died to delivery us from eternal suffering (2 Thessalonians 1:9) and bring us into everlasting enjoyment of his glory (John 17:24)".  We are then encouraged to see "the obvious" that-using Ephesians 1:4-6-God's plan from the beginning was that "God's ultimate purpose in creation and providence was not that his glory be displayed and praised through means that did not involve the suffering of Son.  The cross was not an afterthought.  It was part of the plan from before the foundation of the world (2 Timothy 1:9, Revelation 13:8)."

Finally, Piper writes that "[e]verything else is subordinate to this plan.  Everything else is put in place by God's providence for the sake of this plan.  The display of the glory of God's grace, especially in the suffering of the Beloved, echoing forever in the all-satisfying praises of the redeemed, is the goal of creation and ultimate aim of all God's works for providence". 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and of course so is Your grace and You are worthy of my ceaseless praise and worship.  Thank You for the rich mercies You pour out for me.  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and I am lazy among my many sins.  Please forgive me for seeking my own power over yours and not relying on the peace of Christ.  Please forgive me for seeking comfort in the pleasures of this world.  Help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn 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.

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

Chapter 4: Pages 56-66

 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Acts 17:24-25

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 1 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence before Creation and in Creation" - moving to chapter four "The Act of Creation".  Piper describes how God created all things for God - that creation itself and all created things and beings exist for Him and for His glory. Piper points to several scripture passages to illustrate his point:

• 1 Corinthians 8:6
• Hebrews 2:10
• Acts 17:24-25
• Romans 11:34-36
• Revelation 4:11

Even nature exists for His glory as Piper states that "[i]n order for God's purpose in creation to be attained, there must be a world filled with the 'knowledge of the glory of the Lord'.  Trees may clap their hands for God (Isaiah 55:12), but they do not know what they are doing.  Such conscious, joyful knowing and loving and praising is the destiny of man, not nature."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your creation is worthy of glory and my praise - thank You for loving me so much that You gave me and all Your children such a wonderful creation.  I am undeserving of how You love me.  I worry and struggle with gossip, worry, and other sins.  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.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Chapter 3: Pages 50-56 and Ephesians 1

 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:4-6

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 1 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence before Creation and in Creation" - essentially chapter three.  In these pages, Piper describes providence expressed before the foundation of the world and uses Ephesians 1:4-6 and 11-12 to illustrate God how this is expressed.  I previously posted on how providence is defined as serving for His glory - the "one great end" that distinguishes providence from fate. This morning we see Piper taking this further by stating that God's glory is incomplete without the praise of His glory.  Piper leans on C.S. Lewis, who writes that "[w]e delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is the appointed consummation." Further, Piper explains the "paradox" that exists by statng that "God is the one being in the universe for whom self-exaltation is a form of love.  For [H]e is the only being whose worth and beauty can satisfy the human soul fully and forever.  When God makes [H]is praise the goal of his providence, [H]e is pursuing our full and lasting pleasure.  That is love."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who chose me before the creation of the world - knowing everything about me and my sin - thank You Jesus!  It is indescribable that You would love me as You do.  I am undeserving of course.  My sin, of worry, etc. continues.  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.

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. v1

Selfishness is a sin that drives many other sins.  I know for myself that a desire for glory, status, etc. is strong - I often want to exalt myself.  Yet we exist to exalt God and we must not exalt our selves over God - see here.  Humility - see here - is critical in our relationship with God.  If we see ourselves as important, this blinds us from seeing a need for God.  Instead we remind ourselves of Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount (Beatitudes):

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:3-10

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are great and all good and perfect gifts come from You.  I can no good things apart from You.  Thank You for how You have blessed me - well beyond what I deserve.  I am weak and I often exalt myself - please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects of chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.