Thursday, January 31, 2013

Proclaiming God's Preeminence





We were predestined "to the end that we who were the 

first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His

 glory" (Eph. 1:12).


Preeminence implies supreme standing, picturing one who 

excels over all others in a particular quality or achievement.

 There is no one more preeminent than God.

Ephesians 1:12 underscores that truth. You were redeemed 

and granted an eternal inheritance that God might be glorified

 Certainly you benefit greatly from salvation, but God's glory is 

the primary issue.

Our man-centered culture doesn't share that perspective. 

Sadly, its self-seeking and self-glorifying mentality has crept

 into the church, and even the gospel itself has been subjected

 to its influence. For example sin is often defined by how it 

affects man, not how it dishonors God. Salvation is often 

presented as a means of receiving what Christ offers, not a 

mandate to obey what He commands. Many modern-day 

evangelists have reduced the gospel to little more than a 

formula by which people can live a happy and more fulfilling 

life. The focus has shifted from God's glory to man's benefit.

Such a convoluted gospel fuels the fire of self-love and self-

exaltation.

As believers we know better than that. We know that the 

purpose of life is to glorify God. That means living to His glory 

is to govern everything we do.

What higher or more noble purpose could life afford? 

"Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies 

ahead," Paul said he pressed "on toward the goal for the prize

 of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14). Keep

 that goal clearly in mind in all you do today. By doing so your

 day will be to the praise of God's glory!

Suggestions for Prayer:
  • Praise God for His preeminence in all things.

  • Pray for opportunities to speak of His preeminence to 

  • others, remembering that they will see Him in your 

  • actions as well as your words.
For Further Study:

Read Job 38:42:6
  • How did God convince Job of His surpassing knowledge

  •  and power?

  • What was Job's response?

~John MacArthur~

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