Vacation reflections

The nature and being of God is the foundation of all true worship and life.
The biblical principle behind this is that God made everything for His glory, so that this worship or devotion to Him is absolutely necessary for real life in us. We are in the words of John Owen:

…in our hearts, minds, and souls, to admire, adore, and love him; his praises are we to celebrate; him [are we] to trust and fear, and so to resign ourselves and all our concernments unto his will and disposal; to regard him with all the acts of our minds and persons, answerably to the holy properties and excellencies of his nature. This it is to glorify him as God; for seeing “of him, and through him, and to him are all things,” to him must be “glory for ever,” Rom. 11:36. [1]
[1]Owen, J. Vol. 3: The works of John Owen. (W. H. Goold, Ed.) (65). Edinburg: T&T Clark.

As this thought matures in us as the people of God, his own sons and daughters, we should find ourselves more alert to the things around us that do bring glory to God. Those things should cause us to join in that circle of praise that always and forever surrounds his throne and his person. We join that circle, not just when we verbally praise him in song or word, but when we do his will in this world:

Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV)15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

The sacrifice of praise includes a life devoted to God along with an attitude of thanksgiving and adoration. Yes we should praise him with our speech but notice the author of Hebrews says that our works are sacrifices pleasing to him.

In a devotion by C.H. Spurgeon this week I was clearly reminded that a life like this will involve separation from the values and idols of our present culture. He also reminded me that it will be worth it.

In his words "O professor, too little separated from sinners, you know not what you lose by your conformity to the world. It cuts the tendons of your strength, and makes you creep where you ought to run. Then, for your own comfort’s sake, and for the sake of your growth in grace, if you be a Christian, be a Christian, and be a marked and distinct one." Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening : Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.) (October 14 PM). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

May our communion with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit mark us as distinct in an age where everything is becoming blurred.