Wonders Of His Love Series

Dakota Community Church

December 23, 2012

Wonders of His Love

From The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647):

Question 1: What is the chief end of man? Answer 1: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.

Man’s chief end is to glorify God:

Romans 11:36

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Revelation 4:11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

And to enjoy Him for ever:

Psalm 144:15

Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

God loves us and yet His story is not about us.

God loves us but our purpose is to glorify Him, to make much of Him, to enjoy/find our joy -in Him.

Does that seem backwards to anyone else?

I think the wisdom of this word says: “I am loved when I am being made much of!”

All of this “glorify Me” talk leaves God seeming petty, self-absorbed, narcissistic even.

How does the God-centeredness of God relate to his love for sinners like us?

How is God's passion for His glory an act of love?

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.

God's love for us keeps HIM at the center., it has to! - FOR HE created all things, and by HIS will they were created and have their being.

God's love for us exalts his value and our satisfaction in it.

If God's love made us central it would rob from us the only true source of life, the most precious thing in existence, namely, Himself.

God’s love for us compels Him to lead us to glory only in Him.

This can hurt - but the alternative is damnation.

A few examples of what I am talking about here:

Job 1:8-22

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”