Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages–– Ephesians 3:21

The goal of the church is the glory of God. Although our attention and efforts are so easily distracted toward building programs, political games, or personal relationships, none of these can substitute as a foundation or motivation for the church. The church exists to glorify God in the world.

But we cannot do this in our own strength. That is why Paul prays that this glory will come by Christ Jesus. The more we rely on our own ingenuity, business savvy, or personality for the success of the church, the less God is glorified in the church.

Any organization can thrive through careful business models or market research. But Christ’s church dies without Christ. God is glorified in the church only as Christ as looked to as the sole source of strength and motivation and direction for the church.

Thank God, though, He has not left the church merely to the inventions and power of any person or earthly organization. He has purposed that glory will be given Him, by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages.

What about you? Are you part of God’s plan for glorifying Himself? If you are not actively involved in a local church then you cannot take part in this great purpose.–Copied

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul wrote: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” In other words, the Bible is good for teaching—it tells us what is true; it is good for reproof—it tells us what’s not right; it is good for correction, literally meaning “to stand us up on our feet”—it tells us how to get it right; and finally, the Word of God trains us to perform what is right. That’s a pretty hefty resume for one book. A book like this must be taken seriously.

Many years ago, a man named Robert Chapman gave Christians a powerful reminder of our privilege and responsibility as stewards of God’s Word. He wrote:

This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, and the soldier’s sword. It should fill the memory, test the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who will trifle with its sacred contents. Christ is its grand subject, our good is its design, and the glory of God is its end.

The question then is not “Why study the Bible,” but “How can we afford not to?”  What will you do with God’s Word today?  It’s not meant to simply adorn the table in your living room or lay on your bedside table, unread. 

Pick it up—use it.  It’s the perfect blueprint . . . for building your life.–Copied

John Piper wrote:”Christ is the glory of God. His blood-soaked cross is the blazing center of that glory. By it He bought for us every blessing–temporal and eternal. And we don’t deserve any. He bought them all.—- Because of His cross all guilt is removed, and sins are forgiven, and perfect righteousness is imputed to us, and the love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Spirit, and we are being conformed to the image of Christ.

Therefore, every enjoyment in this life and the next that is not idolatry is a tribute to the infinite value of the cross of Christ–the burning center of the glory of God. And thus a cross-centered, cross-exalting, cross-saturated life is a God-glorifying life–the only God-glorifying life. All others are wasted.“

That being true, how is it that we are so occupied with the vain things of this sinful world, rather than always looking unto Jesus? Successful living demands that we continually consider Christ and the cross(Heb. 12:1-3). Paul David Tripp wrote:

Focus on Christ will always result in focus on the cross. You cannot be Christ-centered without becoming cross-centered. The crucified Christ is to be the center of everything I know about myself and my world.

You cannot have any real hope for flawed people in a fallen world unless there is a Redeemer to rescue us from the evil that resides both inside and outside of us. Real restoration to God’s created design requires the cross. It is the cross of Christ that alone will restore my allegiance to Christ and his rightful place at the center of everything in my life.

In a heart touching scene pictured in Acts 9:39 a group of widows stand before Peter “weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Docas made, while she was with them.” Isn’t it strange that many times people have to die before they are appreciated?

Commenting on this verse, J. R. Miller (1895) said it well when he wrote:”They go through the world living quietly, devoted to the interests of those who are dear to them, seeking no recognition. They are merely commonplace people, and so are allowed to love and serve without appreciation. But one day they are missed from their accustomed place–their work on earth is done–and they are gone! Then the empty place reveals the value of the blessing they have been. In their absence, people learn for the first time the value of the services they had been accustomed to receive from them”.

Dear friend, now is the time to show others that you appreciate what they do. After they are dead and gone you might show others what they contributed to your life, but it will be too late to show them your gratitude for what they’ve done. They can’t smell the roses after they are dead. Now is the time to act!