Glory of the Gospel

Isn't it intense how our creation has one purpose, and that purpose is to glorify God. Simple, yet complex. What an opportunity, yet so challenging. Experiencing life, this way, is what i have been wanting, and He gave it to me.

Over the past year, or year and a half, God has shown me so much about Himself, and about myself. All of my inadequacies, where i fall short, and His glory in everything. I've seen how far into sin i can get, and yet He won't give up on me, in fact He tryies harder to get me back. He brought me to the realization that it in fact is not about me. It's about Him and worshipping Him. Worship is nothing more than a lifestyle. We all worship something, but what exactly are we worshipping. Are we putting ourselves, something, or even someone before our Creator? The fact that God puts all of these good things in our life is out of love for us. There is nothing wrong with these good things. There is only something wrong with these good things when we begin to put them before our God, who has given us these things. Then those simple, good things become an idol, and are our focus of worship. How despising that must be to God, that the tangible things in life that He gives us, we turn around and put before Him. We should constantly be praising God for what He has given us, when it all belongs to Him anyway.

Why do we worship? Worship is a state of mind, or even a state of being, where we place our identity in something. What we should be placing our identity in, is Christ. When we are constantly trying to worship our Creator then we are focused on Him, thus glorifying him. Bringing God glory is such an interesting idea. It's so expansive, and yet simple. That's all we were made for, that's all anything was made for, to glorify God and all that He is. And in fact, why would we not want to glorify Him, when we has created us, and this incredible world and universe that we live in. Someone that can simply speak such things into existence is phenomenal, and we should forever be praising Him for such.

Creation, that is only the beginning of God's glory. He created the universe, the world, and such small things like us humans. Why would God do that? Not because He was lonely or bored, but for the fact that He could be glorified out of that. Everything He does is for His own glory. No, that does not make Him a cocky or arrogant God. He is the only one worthy of such praise. Even when man sinned, that was all part of God's plan to bring Himself glory. This specific point is often where we find ourselves, falling short, and not able to glorify God because of our sin. God had a plan, and that plan was to give His Son as a sacrifice to atone for our sin. Christ living a perfect life was glorifying to God, and the perfect sacrifice for our sin. As humans God has given us the free will to accept His Son as the only resolution to our sin. This point in a person's life where they are able to identify their sin, and repent, and take Christ to be their Savior is the point of redemption. They are redeemed from their sin, and are able to be one with Christ again. They can now be glory filled, and worship, and praise, and live a life for God, not opposing His will. This again brings God glory. Because of the fact that we are able to seek God, in an attempt to praise Him, again gives God the glory that He deserves.

Often times you hear of 'the Gospel' being salvation on the cross from Jesus Christ. Yeah, this is the gospel, and is the only way for true salvation, but this is not the gospel in whole. The Gospel goes back to the fall of man, and then redemption brings us back to Him, where we can glorify Him. With our hearts being changed, our life is being lived out for God, and we naturally strive to glorify Him, sure we struggle but we have hope. It is our faith that gets us through. God's glory will one day be completed, when Christ returns. He will come and take all of His believers back to Heaven where we will spend eternity praising and glorifying Christ, our maker. What an opportunity.

We can glorfy God in every situation if we find a way. God presents every situation in our life as a trial, where we have the opportunity to be dependent on Him. This dependence on Him, once again brings God glory. Seeking God's will in our lives and striving to faithfully obey Him is what He desires.

blessed are those who mourn

matthew 5.4

"blessed are those who mourn..."

mourn over sin: see his purity: see own filth

• ii cor 7.9-11: sorrow leading to repentance: inspire and challenge, motivate to change
• sorrow of the world: fear of being caught
• sorrow of God: heart change

two pictures of sorrow

1. peter: offended Christ by betrayal: wept bitterly, repented before Christ
2. judas: offended Christ by betrayal: stricken by guilt, hanged himself

"...for they shall be comforted"

• pain hollows out a place for God's comfort, a need for Him (isa 61.1-3)

isa 61

• v2 - to comfort all those who mourn...
• v3 - so that He may be glorified(!)

so what?!

• repent: God's comfort is forgiveness of sin: you can't do it
• mourn - comfort - comfort others (ii cor 1.3-5)
• comfort is the real solution, not "consoling," but forgiving