Saturday, September 16, 2006

Being Glad in God

For all my friends who desire to passionately follow the living God: Here's a book recommendation. Let the Nations Be Glad, (John Piper). Once again I am using it as one of the texts in my Introduction to Church Planting class and once again it is inspiring a new devotion not only in the 13 students in the class but also in my own heart.

I wish every Calvinist, every Arminian, and every Emergent thinker would spend some time not only reading (or rereading) this text but meditating on the texts Piper quotes on the gladness of the nations in God.

"God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him," goes the mantra of Dr. Piper. For over 16 years I have been exposed to this perspective, and it never ceases to show me new vistas of joy. "Give up your small ambitions" said the Francis Xavier, "and come East and preach the gospel."

My update would be "Give up your small ambitions and go anywhere and trust the gospel to have power." The gospel of God (see Mark 1-2) is the hope of the nations and the wellspring of their greatest joy. It's the wellspring of all of God's people's greatest joy.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I haven't read that one yet, but I will someday, I'm sure. I've almost finished listening through Chapter 3 in Piper's series on Romans and it has totally transformed my commute. It's as good as I thought it would be. I love justification by faith now in a way I never thought possible.

ChosenRebel said...

Have you read Counted Righteous in Christ, by Piper? It's a slow read, even though it is a brief treatment. It too, will increase your love and understanding of the importance and justification.

Great Hymn post on your last blog entry. Not thrilled with the music, love the words.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I picked up that one at a Navs conference a couple years ago. I just revisited it a couple of weeks ago becuase of the Wright/Piper "controversy." It made me love imputation. It also inspired an evening's worth of conversation about Romans 5 between my wife and me.