Can't Figure Out God
Taking time to discuss life with children carries dual opportunities. While it affords us the privilege of influencing a young mind, it challenges us to attest and verify what our beliefs actually are.
Last week, I was blessed by some deep discussions with a couple of grandsons. One of those ended with the satisfying resolve that it's a good thing we can't figure God out. That makes Him the kind of God we want to have! God's Word tells us we are limited in that we are only able to think with human minds.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
One of our conversations was about what the Bible says concerning why God created us. It doesn't say it was for us to have a great time here on earth. It says we were created for His glory and to praise Him.
The discussion set me on a "dig deeper" course and an excellent sermon by John Piper on why we praise God. "God is praiseworthy, we ought to praise him...He governs the world precisely to the end that he might be admired, marveled at, exalted, and praised. In 2 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul says Christ is coming, at the end of this age 'to be glorified in his saints and to be marveled at by all who believe.'"
Nay sayers, who don't like puffed up egotistical humans may say then why does God call us to be humble. Wanting glory doesn't sound very humble. Piper rebuffs this line of thinking with these comments.
"God's clear purpose from Scripture is to exalt himself in the eyes of man." Piper wants to show us that "God's aim and effort to glorify himself is wholly good and without fault of any kind and is very different from human self-exaltation because it is an expression of love."
When we remember God loves us, created us and knows where our complete joy can be found...in Him...it broadens our understanding that He is always up to a process for our good. Piper share's the key to grasping this.
"We praise what we enjoy because the delight is incomplete until it is expressed in praise. (I love that.) If we were not allowed to speak of what we value and celebrate what we love and praise what we admire, our joy would not be full. Therefore, if God is truly for us, if he would give us the best and make our joy full, he must make it his aim to win our praise for himself-not because he needs to shore up some weakness in himself or compensate for some deficiency, but because he loves us and seeks the fullness of our joy that can only be found in knowing and praising him, the most beautiful of all beings."
Now that's a heartfelt "Amen!" from me!
He ways are always wonderful. So...off for a praise party we go!
So, this is how God blows me away. After writing I grabbed my phone and clicked onto Pandora and my contemporary Christian genre. I said, "Lord, please give me a song that brings you praise."
I've never heard this song before by Chris Tomlin, but it was perfect! Bought it!
"First Love"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMBzKtX2eB0
Today's Coloring Page Promise
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
