“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2:8-10
True enjoyment of God must lead naturally to mission—to helping others see the beauty you see. God never draws us in except to send us out—to serve and reach others. -Tim Keller via Twitter
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” -Psalm 27:4
Lord, I will obey You simply because You are worthy of it and it is my duty. But don’t let my service to You remain at that level. Show me Your beauty – attract my heart, capture my imagination, so that I find joyful pleasure in serving You. Amen. -Tim Keller via Twitter
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1
“Beauty was created by God for a purpose: to give us the experience of wonder. And wonder, in turn, is intended to lead us to the ultimate human expression and privilege: worship. Beauty is both a gift and a map. It is a gift to be enjoyed and a map to be followed back to the source of the beauty with praise and thanksgiving.” -Steve DeWitt in Eyes Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything (Credo House, 2012, page 91)
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” -1 John 2:15
“In the end, the sum of all beauty is Christ, and the sin of all worldliness is to diminish our capacity to see Him and be satisfied in Him and show Him compellingly to a perishing world.” -John Piper
[excerpt from John Piper‘s forward to Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World, edited by C.J. Mahaney, pg. 13; Crossway Books 2008]
This is a special after-the-sunrise post summarizing last night’s message from Exodus 30.
The imagery of the Old Testament shows more deeply the beauty of our Lord and Savior in His redemptive work.
vs. 11-16- We are bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
vs. 17-21- We are sanctified and meet [useful, profitable] for the Master’s use. (2 Timothy 2:21)
vs. 22-33- We are anointed by His Spirit.
Are you devoted to His service? Is what you have consecrated to Him?
♪”All that is in me, all that I am, there’s nothing I’m withholding from Him.”♪
(see all of the lyrics to this song)
New Life Baptist Church 