worship

Great Glory

~ P. Jason

Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV)

What’s amazing is that any and every Christian can bring glory to God, no matter what is going on in our lives. We might assume we need to preach to thousands of people or have time to pray for hours each day. We might think only the millionaire who supports many churches and ministries can really bring God glory.

But ordinary, busy, tired, imperfect Christians bring glory to God. God’s glory is not found in things that impress the world. No, He receives great glory when in the midst of fear, suffering, or other dark times, we continue to love and care for others. When we love people when life is going wrong, Jesus receives a great deal of glory.

About a decade ago, a young woman who was a close friend of our church passed away from cancer. Our pastor, who was close to her, was deeply saddened and yet during worship he sang. This was simple and perhaps small, but God received the glory.

Only Saints

~ P. Jason

The Way of the Righteous in the Muck of Life
Dale Davis

Psalm 11:1 In the LORD I take refuge…

Psalm 11:7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Derek Kidner has said it well: ‘If the first line of the psalm showed where the believer’s safety lies, the last line shows where his heart should be. God as “refuge” may be sought from motives that are too self-regarding; but to behold his face [RSV] is a goal in which only love has any interest.’  There are many who are interested in safety, but only saints care about fellowship.

A Perfectly Empty Heart

~ P. Jason

Julian Green

The story of the manna gathered and set aside by the Hebrews is deeply significant.  It so happened that the manna rotted when it was kept. And perhaps that means that all spiritual reading which is not consumed–by prayer and by works–ends by causing a sort of rotting inside us. You die with a full head of fine sayings and a perfectly empty heart.

Small Ambitions

~ P. Jason

John Stott

Ambitions for self may be quite modest…Ambitions for God, however, if they are to be worthy, can never be modest. There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God. How can we ever be content that he should acquire just a little more honour in the world? No. Once we are clear that God is King, then we long to see him crowned with glory and honour, and accorded his true place, which is the supreme place. We become ambitious for the spread of his kingdom and righteousness everywhere.