Thought you all might like to hear from someone besides me for a change. The following post is written by Joey Hahne, or as he is known on his own blog, J.C. Hahne. http://itsallbygrace.wordpress.com.
I imagine that most Christians have heard of the following affirmation:
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
If you are a Piper fan like me, you know that he argues that these two things, glorifying God, and enjoying God, are not two different things, but one. We glorify God by enjoying Him.”He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” (John Piper 3:16) And so I do think that it is safe to say that God receives glory in us when He is seen, savored and treasured as all-satisfying. But my question for you is this: How can you enjoy God?
The first two examples that popped into my head were these: 1. Pizza, 2. Football. I love pizza and I love football. Now don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not trying to compare God with pizza and football, but I do believe we can learn to enjoy God more, and thus glorify HIm, by looking at these two pleasures of mine.
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Pizza! – The best way for me to enjoy a pizza is not just talking about it (even if my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it). No, it’s most enjoyed when I sink my teeth into that slice of extra cheese-pepperoni-pineapple pizza. Joy comes in the tasting of the pizza. Oh how delicious!!! The extra cheese-pepperoni-pineapple pizza receives praise/glory by all those around me as they see me declare through the visible delight of how good the pizza is. The enjoyment produces glory.
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Football – Since moving back to Europe in 1996, I have become a huge fan of football, or what Americans often call “soccer.” My level of enjoyment and appreciation of the sport has grown considerably as my knowledge and understanding has grown. When I first started watching the sport I was only excited when that rare goal was finally scored. Now as I started to learn more of the rules, strategies of attack and defense, the art of passing and dribbling, studying the role of each individual player and so on, my enjoyment of the game rose and thus the sport was glorified in my appreciation of it.
So what is my conclusion? How can we enjoy Him and thus glorify Him? By tasting of the goodness of the gospel; by declaring the wonders of His grace; by studying, knowing and understanding every aspect of His character and attributes. These things will bring great pleasure to our souls. That is how we will enjoy God and thus glorify Him.
J.C. Hahne
I love your examples Joey. It’s not enough to just talk about enjoying God, but to enjoy comes when we enter into His presence where there is fulness of Joy and Pleasures forevermore! As I taste of Him I truly can glorify Him. As I see Him working in my life, eradicating sin, showing me His glorious grace, mercy and love, among other things, and then seeing Him work in the lives of those around me, those in His wonderful family, then my enjoyment is only enhanced and thus I glorify God all the more. Thank You Joel Christopher.