Sing To The Lord, All The Earth!

(Image courtesy of https://www.redletterchristians.org.)
Being a parent is humbling in many ways.  Not only am I responsible for the care and nurture of my children - to make sure they stay alive - I am also responsible for equipping them to be moral, God-fearing people.  This is the humbling part: when I am teaching my daughter not to yell at her brother in anger when he disrupts her play, I am quickly reminded of my own anger; thus, as I lead her to the cross, I myself am there.  This is why parenting is such a powerful means to sanctification.

I have also found that when teaching spiritual truths to my children, I am often confronted with my own lack of understanding on crucial, theological issues.  By God's grace, I usually come away from my teaching sessions having grown myself in my understanding and knowledge of God.  There's something about being able to teach that both humbles and strengthens the teacher.

Tonight, for instance, after Brielle was tucked into bed, I was telling my daughter that God has a great purpose for her life.  Immediately, my mind was flooded with half-truths (lies) about God's purpose for our lives that I have heard (and believed) at different times in my life:
"God wants you to be happy (so pursue whatever makes you happy)."
"God has great plans for you (and great successes in store); He wants to bless you (materially)."
"God's purpose for your life is grand (and it includes a new car and great heath)."
Obviously, God does have a purpose for everything that He has created, otherwise why would He have wasted His time making it?  The question is, what is that purpose?  As all of these thoughts sped through my mind, I was reminded of the Westminster Catechism answer to this question of man's chief purpose as well as a verse from Colossians that Brielle and I often quote to each other that directs us to our purpose:
"Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."
"All things have been made by Him and for Him."
At last, I continued my conversation with my daughter, as she lay tucked under her blanket, holding her Hedgie next to her face.  "Brielle," I continued, "God's great purpose for your life is that you worship Him.  You were made for a reason, and that reason is for Him.  You won't find any other satisfaction or joy or pleasure or happiness that is greater, because you have been made by Him and for Him."

My heart was filled with joy as I basked in this reality.  Contrary to what I often hear, my chief purpose is not found in myself; it is found in my Creator.  I have been made by Him and for Him.  I have been made by God for a very special purpose: to worship Him!  If I am going to be truly happy and content in my life, I must worship God through my attitudes, actions, and thoughts.  He is the purpose I am here for.

Brothers and sisters, there is, indeed, no other chief reason why we are here on this earth.  We exist because of God; therefore, we exist for God.  But sinners are helpless to worship God except through the way He has given us: through His Son, the man Jesus Christ.  Praise be to God, who tells us to worship Him, gives us the ability to worship Him, and fulfills us through the worship of Him!

It seems paradoxical: how can I be satisfied when my life's focus is on Someone else?  Yet, it is logical and true that a created being would find his satisfaction in doing what his Creator created him to do.  Indeed, it is the command of God that "all the earth" worship Him.


"Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!" (Psalm 96:1).

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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