Let The Nations Be Glad and Sing For Joy

by: John Piper

The ultimate goal of God in all of history is to uphold and display his glory for the enjoyment of the redeemed from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. His goal is the gladness of his people, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Delight is a higher tribute than duty. The chief end of God is to glorify God and enjoy his glory forever. Since his glory is magnified most in the God-centered passions of his joyful people, God’s self-exaltation and our jubilation are one. The greatest news in all the world is that God’s ultimate aim to be glorified and man’s aim to be satisfied are not at odds.

WORSHIP — The goal of missions, therefore, is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God. “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands BE GLAD!” (Ps. 97:1). “Let the nations BE GLAD AND SING FOR JOY!” (Ps. 67:4). The missionary command to be happy in God is simply a command for the consummation of praise. Professed praise of God without pleasure in God is hypocrisy. Therefore, worship is the fuel and the goal of missions.

Worship is the goal of missions because in missions we aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. It is the fuel of missions because we can’t commend what we don’t cherish. We can’t call out, “Let the nations BE GLAD!” until we say, “I REJOICE in the Lord.” Missions begins and ends in worship.

 

— John Piper, LET THE NATIONS BE GLAD!: THE SUPREMACY OF GOD IN MISSIONS, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1993, p. 231. ISBN: 0-8010-2613-X

 

[Posted by: – Carl Stam (carlstam@aol.com) wqotw@wqotw.org]

 

ba

[WE FLED TO THEE]

I thought this was especially beautiful. But more than that – it’s interesting and thought-provoking.    |     Cindy.

If there had anywhere appeared in space

Another place of refuge, where to flee,

Our hearts had taken refuge in that place,

And not with Thee.

 

For we against creation’s bars had beat,

Like prisoned eagles, through great worlds had sought,

Though but a foot of ground to plant our feet,

Where Thou wert not.

 

And only when we found in earth and air,

In heaven or hell, that such might nowhere be–

That we could not flee from Thee anywhere,

We fled to Thee.

 

By: Richard C. Trench – 1885

He Makest No Mistake

He Makest No Mistake

A.M. Overton

1900-1952

 

My Father’s way may twist and turn

My heart may throb and ache;

But in my soul I’m glad to know

He makest no mistake.

 

My cherished plans may go astray,

My hopes may fade away;

But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,

For He doth know the way.

 

Though might be dark and it seem that day will never break,

I’ll pin my faith, my all, on Him,

He maketh no mistake.

 

There’s so much now I cannot see,

My eye sight’s far too dim,

But come what may, I’ll simply trust

And leave it all to Him.

 

Far by-and-by the mist will lift,

And plain it all He’ll make;

Through all the way, tho dark to me,

He made not one mistake.

[Berea Baptist Banner, (May 10, 1981), 3.]

 

ba

Devoted for Life …

 Adoniram Judson – (1788-1850)
“The motto for every missionary, whether preacher, printer, or schoolmaster, ought to be ‘Devoted for Life.'”

ba