The greatest news in all the world is that there is no final conflict between my passion for joy and God's passion for his glory.

WOW.

John Piper speaking truth.

I just read this article by John Piper entitled "The Goal of God's Love May Surprise You" (which contained the title of my blog).

For a while now I've been thinking hard about God's love. What the heck do we do with it. How can we do anything to pay Him back...or demonstrate it....or show Him how much we love Him in return?

How....

David wanted to build a temple. God denied Him, but granted that through David's line the temple would be built...and that God would be with David forever.

David know the presence of the Lord was his good...and was the one best thing.

"ONE THING I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD, and to meditate in His temple." (Psalm 27:4)

David's deepest joy was in God's love...not in the pursuit of loving Him back.


Paul wrote, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

Though he knew his labor on earth would be fruitful and profitable for many, he knew his deepest joy was found with Christ in full revelation of His glory--not in what he could do for Christ.

It feels sometimes like sometimes I'm trying sooooooo hard to hug God, but I can't even get my arms around His pinky. Not even close. There's just not enough of me to love God through obedience...or expression....or anything. I just have to let myself be enveloped in the unfathomable greatness of His love, not even being able to see all of it....let alone imitate it well enough to get joy from my own efforts.


"God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy." (Romans 15:8,9a)

"I will give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever. For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol." (Psalm 86:12,13)