Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Love Keeps God Central
My girls and I are about to finish Girl Talk. We have a few more short, but important chapters to go. We have enjoyed it a lot. The book has caused us to have many discussions about its content and it has challenged each of us in our relationship to one another. It has stirred us to look lots up in the Bible and see what God's Word has to say about the many topics that the Mahaney women discuss as Biblical womanhood. I highly recommend it...I will probably add some more of my thoughts on this books as we finish it.
We have now begun our new book to read together. John Piper's Pierced By The Word. In it are 31 meditations, or short chapters. We did the first one yesterday and I just have to post on it. It was so good. This book is very *meaty* and will be so good for me to read through. I know my girls will benefit from it as well. The first chapter is entitled: How Strange and Wonderful is the Love of Christ.
I think some have missed the point of salvation...it is not for us to be central, but for God to be central. How many times have you heard people say that having Jesus in your life will make your life so much better...you will have peace, joy, and happiness. Although, there are great benefits to God's grace on us and we do have the joy of the Lord in our hearts forever...we are not central. God has been so kind in choosing us and there are so many spiritual blessings...I can not even begin to name them all...but it really is not about me and this life so much.
John Piper says:
We have absorbed the world's definition of love. It says: You are loved when you are made much of. The main problem of this definition is that when you try to apply it to God's love for us, it distorts reality. God's love for us is not mainly His making much of us, but His giving us the ability to enjoy making much of Him forever. In other words, God's love for us keeps God at the center. God's love for us exalts His value and our satisfaction in it. If God's love made us central and focused on our value, it would distract us from what is most precious, Himself.
We are so self absorbed, that we often miss this. I think churches miss this. I think we must always be examining our own hearts to see if we are really satisfied in God alone...are we truly glorifying Him...or are we seeking only the things that benefit us. Do we make ourselves central? Are we distracting from His glory?
John Piper defines love as this: Love is doing whatever you need to do to help people see and savor the glory of God in Christ forever and ever.
I really liked this profound statement by Piper:
For most people, love is whatever puts human value and human well-being at the center. But let us not tell Jesus what love is. Let us not instruct Him how He should love us and make us central. Let us learn from Jesus what love is and what our true well-being is. Love keeps God central. Because the soul was made for God.
O Father, take us captive with this love. Open the eyes of our hearts to see and savor the glory of Christ. And when we are enthralled with being loved this way, make us lovers like Jesus. Let us labor and suffer to lead as many as we can into this all satisfying love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. John Piper
I think we are in for a feast with this book.
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
12 Comments:
Oh, do I ever love his writings. We have done that book for our devotions at night, my hubby and I.
And he is so right- the world views love as "how much can I get out of this." The Bible says love is "how much can I give."
Thanks for sharing the quotes from Piper's book. I have that one on my shelf--just haven't read it yet. I'll have to make it my next one!
Sounds like a very good book. I love how you do books together with your girls.
I love the way Piper always puts God and His glory in the center - enjoy your reading together!
Great post. I look forward to hearing more.
Today is my one year blog anniversary. I included you in my post.
Thank you for sharing those quotes :) I can't wait to read your book!!
Oh Kim, I have to get that book. Thank you for sharing this, and that video is so good, it makes me want to cry.
It makes me want to love Him more.
I had not heard of this book by Piper. Is it new? Thank you so much for sharing. It sounds like one we're going to love!
I need to get both of those books. They look amazing.
In Colossians 3, Paul says our lives are gone...we have died & are hidden in Christ. That means that it's not about us at all...but all about Him. He is our life, and we will appear with Him in glory. In the meanwhile, we should seek to remain hidden in Him.
Blessings,
Wow! That video was really meaningful. I know that I'm guilty of treating Jesus that way, of not savoring him. I would love to read that book. Thanks for the recommendation.
Kim this was great! We are going through this subject with the teens at our church - complete surrender, this was such an encouragment at just the right time!
Yep, you're in for a feast. And if you want a lavish banquet, read Piper's "What Jesus Demands From the World," if you haven't read it already. It's a heart-burner!
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