GOD’S WORD FOR JUNE 11 ~ ~ Philippians 2:15 ~ ~ “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Continuing with “the Pleasures of God” by John Piper, now in chapter 4,

The pleasure of God in his fame is not only the basis of our pardon, but also of our obedience and service. David teaches us to believe that God leads us in paths of righteousness FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE” (Ps 23:3)

Jesus commends the persevering saints at Ephesus, “I know that you are bearing up FOR MY NAME’S SAKE” Revelation 2:3

This is probably what Paul means in Colossians 3:17 when he sums up the whole Christian life in these words, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the NAME OF THE LORD JESUS” That is, live your whole life to honor the name of Jesus—to give him a good reputation and spread his fame.

O how we need to feel the passion for God’s fame that rings through the Bible! Surely there is a great blind spot in the vision of hundreds of thousands of churches. Or perhaps we should say a great NUMB spot—a part of the mind and heart where the light of God’s passion for his glory lands and is simply not felt.

My prayer is that one effect of this book will be to cut the calluses off the mind and heart that keep them from feeling the force of God’s passion for his fame among all the unreached peoples of the world.

We are compelled to return to a much more biblical and radical position—that of being a minority in the world but not of it (2 Corinthians 6:17)

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

1 John 2:15

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

James 4:4 ~ ~ “…..whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

In John 17:16, in His prayer to the Father, Jesus said this: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

We need to return to the concept of the Pilgrim Church. The church that will be hated, rejected, despised, persecuted, yet be an incisive, decisive, victorious minority which one day will be ready for its heavenly Bridegroom as the perfected Bride.

The main reason for this confidence is the indomitable delight God has in his fame among the nations. His promises make plain that he will see his fame extend to all the peoples and his name praised by every nation.

And the prayers of God’s people inevitably lead to the call for believers to move out with courage and confidence.

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