As i began reading the book Let The Nations Be Glad!(3rd edition) by John Piper, some rather adverse concepts were presented that honestly took me off guard. “The Chief End of God Is to Glorify God and Enjoy Himself Forever…. God is righteous. This means that he recognizes, welcomes, loves, and upholds with infinite jealousy and energy what is infinitely valuable, namely, the worth of God. God’s righteous passion and delight is to display and uphold his infinitely valuable glory. ” Reference Isaiah 48:9-11 …”What this text hammers home to us is the centrality of God in his own affections. The most passionate heart for the glorification of God is God’s heart. God’s ultimate goal is to uphold and display the glory of his name.” Later Piper asks the big question “How can self-exaltation be love?” and I read that explanation and further explored the concept with Him directly in prayer, and what an amazing realization!!! In the few days since encountering this perspective shifting idea I’ve grown, what feels like insurmountably, in my personal walk with the Lord. As my hunger for Him has shifted and expanded more than ever before He continually shows me how infinite He truly is and it’s both humbling and awesome. And the more I grow in my knowledge, understanding, and love for Him the more He calls me to share it. With everyone. Something beautiful about this sharing is that it begins to come naturally for those who share His heart for Him. It truly is an overflow. How astounding and breath-taking is the God we serve and love that He is one with us as a father, friend, counciler, and mediator!! I truly believe His work, as incomprehensible as it can be, is moving in this world at an unimaginable pace to bring all the nations together in worship of Him!! Let’s not limit His work any longer by praying small or selfish prayers, let’s, as we continue getting to know Him, pray for the lost here in Ukraine, that they all see the worship of the Christian churches here, our ministry hosts, and our teams and come to know the Lord! But let’s also pray for the places we each live in too. And the places we’ve been and the places we’ll go!! His kingdom come, His will be done. He will not ignore prayers like that but fulfill them in incredible ways!!
