Pastor's Perspective

Praying for our President, Barack Obama

It was my joy to sit with my dear friends, Al Mohler, C.J. Mahaney, Mark Dever, Thabiti Anyabwile and John Piper in Louisville, Kentucky this morning, watching the inauguration of our new President. One of the things we talked about was how to pray for him. Al Mohler has some brilliant guidance here. I also want us, as members of First Presbyterian Church to think Christianly about how to think about and pray for our new President.

As Americans, I suspect that none of us can fully appreciate the far-reaching significance of this event, though our nation and much of the rest of the world are electric with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new President of the United States of America. To say that this is historic, is a gross understatement.

Many are rejoicing at this very visible public realization of the ideals of the Declaration of Independence at the very pinnacle of our civic life. In the ascendancy of an African-American from less-than-privileged circumstances to the leadership of the free world, we see the fruit of aspirations of the Founders: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” You don’t have to read far in the newspapers of the world to see them marveling at yet another astounding accomplishment in the great experiment that is America.

Do you realize that our republic has now enjoyed 44 peaceful transitions of power in our two-plus centuries of existence. There is no parallel for this in human history. And we need to thank God for his singular blessing in bestowing it upon us, undeserving as we are.

But I said I wanted us to think about all this Christianly (and not just as grateful or concerned Americans, much less as giddy Democrats or grumpy Republicans!). And this presents us with some challenges, doesn't it?

As much as we may feel "this is my President and I want him to succeed," as much as we may feel sympathetic joy with millions who watched President Obama's inauguration with tear-filled eyes and hope-filled hearts, feeling themselves a part of the American story in a way they've never felt before, there lingers a question as to how to think about our leader in areas where his views and policies conflict with biblical conviction.

Many Christians find themselves profoundly conflicted because of some of the moral positions and social policies that Mr. Obama espouses. So how do you pray for your President when you disagree with him?

Thankfully, the Bible is not silent about such a question. After all it commands us to pray for all in authority (1 Timothy 2:2), no matter their party, policies or religion (or lack thereof). It is vital that we think Christianly, which is to say, biblically, about this issue (and not just as Democrats or Republicans who happen to be Christian). So, back to the question. How do we pray for Mr. Obama? Here are some ideas (and I want to thank Al Mohler and Justin Taylor for many of these thoughts and words) for praying for our new President, Barack Obama.

First, it needs to be said, that we ought to commit ourselves to pray for our new President, for his wife and family, for his administration, and for the nation. We will do this, not only because of the biblical command to pray for our rulers, but because of the second greatest commandment "Love your neighbor" and what better way to love your neighbor, than to pray for his well-being. Those with the greatest moral and political differences with the President ought to ask God to engender in them, by His Spirit, genuine neighbor-love for Mr. Obama.

We will also pray for our new President because he (and we) face challenges that are not only daunting but potentially disastrous. We will pray that God will grant him wisdom. He and his family will face new challenges and the pressures of this office. May God protect them, give them joy in their family life, and hold them close together.

We will pray that God will protect this nation even as our new President settles into his role as Commander in Chief, and that God will grant peace as he leads the nation through times of trial and international conflict and tension.

We will pray that God would change President Obama's mind and heart on issues of crucial moral concern. May God change his heart and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn, to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of issues in a new light. We must pray this from this day until the day he leaves office. God is sovereign, after all.

For those Christians who are more concerned than overjoyed about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance that as our President, Barack Obama will have God-given authority to govern us, and that we should view him as a servant of God (Rom. 13:1, 4) to whom we should be subject (Rom. 13:1, 5; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). Thus, again, we are to pray for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to thank God for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to respect Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7). We are to honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17).

For those Christians who are more overjoyed than concerned about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance of our ultimate allegiance: Jesus is Lord (and thus, He, not we, decides what is right and wrong), we serve God not man, and the Lord himself has promised to establish "the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him" (Malachi 3:18). Thus, where our new president opposes or undermines biblical moral standards in our society, fails to uphold justice for the unborn, undermines religious liberties or condones an ethos that is hostile to the Gospel, we will pray for God's purposes to triumph over our President's plans and policies.

Without doubt and whatever our particular views may be, we face hard days ahead. Realistically, we must all expect to be frustrated and disappointed. Some now may feel defeated and discouraged. While others may all-too-soon find their audacious hopes unfounded and unrealized. We must all keep ever in mind that it is God who raises up leaders and nations, and it is God who pulls them down, and who judges both nations and rulers. We must not act or think like unbelievers, or as those who do not trust God.

So, now, Christian. Let’s get to work. And pray.

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Pastor's Perspective

Happy New Year!

Well, the Lord has seen fit to bless us with another year of life and service together. Let us make the most of it!

We had a good first Lord's Day. We continue in Luke on Sunday mornings. Our Communicants Class has begun. Derek's back in Nehemiah on Sunday evenings (Sarah Kennedy said to me afterwards: "Dad, I really liked Dr. Thomas' sermon - especially the part about camping!"). Read to the end of this post to find out what's starting during the Midweek Bible Study and Prayer Meeting this coming Wednesday Night.

There are a number of things to report on quickly:

2009 MID-SOUTH MEN'S RALLY - Friday, January 30, 2009
It is not too early for you to begin making plans to be present at the Men's Rally. Rick Phillips is our speaker. In addition to being a prolific author, he is also a retired Army Officer, taught leadership at West Point and graduated from the prestigious Wharton School in Philadelphia. Men, invite friends and relations! Who are you going to bring?

Year-End Giving and a Cause for Praise
Well, the dust still hasn't settled yet, and I'll give you more detailed information when I have it, but I can confidently tell you this: the Lord has blessed beyond all expectations. More than a million dollars was given to the church in the last four days of the year. More than 2 million was given in December as a whole. As a result, church giving well-exceeded our spending for 2008. We go into the new year with a surplus. And, our total indebtedness is now under $4 million.

The Lord is so good. He has taken care of us as a congregation through thick and thin in three different centuries. May He get all the praise and all the glory!

Men's Bible Study for 2009 – Starts in February
Nate Shurden, our Minister of Discipleship and Young Adults, is going to be leading a weekly morning Bible study (surveying the Old Testament) which will include teaching, guided discussion, prayer and a light breakfast. The Bible study will meet on Tuesday mornings from 6:30-7:40 a.m. in Miller Hall from February to May. To indicate your desire to participate (or for more information), please contact Shannon Craft, Administrative Assistant of Discipleship, at shannonc@fpcjackson.org or call 601-326-9243.

Your "new" Executive Minister
Jeremy Smith is now officially our Executive Minister. His interim title was "Senior Assistant Minister." Bill Hughes, our long-time Executive Minister completed his year as Executive Minister-Emeritus and is now officially retired. Anne and I will take Bill and Mary Ann out to a "farewell" lunch this week, but we are so glad that they will continue their half-century-long fellowship with First Presbyterian Church even in their retirement.

Prayer Meeting – The Gospel Course
We will be covering the material (in an expanded form) from the Gospel Course in our Mid-Week Evening Bible Study and Prayer Meetings from January 7 to March 18, 2009. So, we start this Wednesday night! Spread the word, and come yourself. Billy Joseph is going to begin doing some evangelism-discipleship soon as well. Call him if you are interested, (601) 973 9124 or (601) 906 0459. Here's the schedule:

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
January 7 - 1. What Is Evangelism?
January 14 - 2. Why Don't We Evangelize?
January 21 - 3. What Is the Gospel?
January 28 - 4. Who Should Evangelize?
February 11 - 5. How Should We Evangelize?
February 25 - 6. What Evangelism Isn't and What Isn't Evangelism
March 4 - 7. What Do We Do After We Evangelize?
March 11 - 8. What's Our Motivation to Evangelize?
March 18 - 9. Who Makes a Christian? and What Does It Look Like When Someone Comes to Christ?

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Pastor's Perspective

Nothing is Impossible with God:
The Sovereignty of God gloriously displayed in the virginal conception of Christ

Well, I'm still enjoying the afterglow of a glorious Lord's Day at First. In the morning services, we were in Luke 1:26-38, a passage telling of Gabriel's visit to Mary, commonly know as, the Annunciation. We began by reflecting on the fact that at Christmastime, American evangelical Christians are perhaps more conscious than at any other time of the year of how the world shapes us. And we also, perhaps, long more than at any other time of the year to be shaped by Christ and his Word and Spirit, rather than by the world. We asked how can we see some growth and encouragement in this area. And answered this way. First, it begins in the desires, the affections. Then prayer. Then self-examination. Then attention to Scripture. Then repentance. Then new resolve. Then deeper dependence upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, and greater treasuring of Christ.

And we observed that Luke 1:26-38, while being first and foremost about Christ, and God's work of redemption in him, offers us some help and hope here. If the world offers us worship of stuff and status, treasuring of fading pleasures, worldy wisdom, self-reliance and freedom to do as we please, the Gospel offers us superior joy. In particular, we saw this through five words: (1) Humility, (2) Privilege, (3) Mystery, (4) Sovereignty, and (5) Submission.

I. The humble circumstances of Mary and the humble conditions of our Savior’s birth, set forth something of God’s condescension and Jesus’ humility (26-27). In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary."The great Gabriel sent to mean Nazareth is a picture of God's amazing condescension and foreshadows Jesus' course of humility. As Kent Hughes says: "Mary was a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere." God dwells with the humble indeed. And should this not move us to lives of humility?

II. The privilege of Mary in bearing the Messiah, God’s only Son, ought to make us think of the privilege we have in being children of God, through faith in Him (28, 30). And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
Though it is true, as Luther said "No woman has ever lived on earth to whom God has shown such grace." It is also true that there is no greater privilege than the adoption we have by faith-union into God's family. Remember Luke 8:21 where Jesus said, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." And John 1:12 where we learn that "to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." As great as Mary's privilege was, we must not forget that by grace through faith in Christ, we have becomes God's children, members of his household, brothers and sisters of Jesus and joint-heirs with him.

III. The Mystery of the Virgin Birth, far from a problem for faith, proves the worthiness of God to be worshiped, and the importance of our walking by faith and not by sight (34). And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
Do you have a problem with the idea of a virgin birth? So did Mary! She was befuddled by such a concept. But think about it friends, if you believe in an infinite and omnipotent God, miracles and mysteries shouldn't surprise you. After all, Christians believe that Mary's baby was God in the flesh! Surely that is no less amazing than her virgin conception of him.

IV. The Sovereignty of God is seen in the Angel Gabriel’s answer regarding the Virgin Birth (and the birth of John the Baptist) (37). For nothing will be impossible with God."
How does Gabriel answer Mary's query? "There's nothing God can't do, Mary!" So, faith rests on the truth and reality of the sovereignty of God. As our favorite dead Anglican bishop once said: "Faith never rests so calmly and peacefully as when it lays its head on the pillow of God’s omnipotence" (J.C. Ryle). By the way, this shows at the outset, that our salvation must be all of God and all of grace! If the entrance of the Messiah into the world is marked by a singular, sovereign intervention by God, it serves to remind us that HE will accomplish our salvation, without our aid or assistance. This is his work. His sovereign work. His gracious work. This is the heart of the passage, and a key to the Christian life.

V. The Christian life can be summarized by Mary’s response to Gabriel – God-centered believing, thinking and living, and self-renouncing service (38). And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Mary's response is stunningly mature. Indeed, it's a picture of how the Christian life should be lived. "Let it be according to your Word" about sums it all up, doesn't it. I love how the hymn "Father, I Know That All My Life" captures this idea in its fourth stanza: "In service which thy will appoints there are no bonds for me; my secret heart is taught the truth that makes thy children free; a life of self-renouncing love is one of liberty." (Anna L. Waring).

So while the world offers us worship of stuff and status, and fading pleasures for treasures, and worldy wisdom, and self-reliance and freedom to do as we please, the Gospel offers us solid joys and lasting treasure, because of God's grace to us in Christ Jesus. And thus we have a superior joy. And that joy is expressed and experienced in our (1) life of humility, (2) sense of Gospel privilege, (3) acceptance of mystery, (4) embrace of his sovereignty, and (5) joyful submission to God's will.

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Pastor's Perspective

Merry Christmas! and the Church Blog Schedule

The last First Epistle for the Year of our Lord, 2008 will be printed this week. Our faithful editor (and publishers!) will take a brief break and then get right back at it in 2009. As usual, we will not publish the week of Christmas or New Year's Day, so the first issue of 2009 will be dated January 9. Now, for those of you who can't imagine going two weeks without the First Epistle, be assured that things will keep humming along here on the church blog. My online version of the Pastor's Perspective will appear here (as per usual) on Mondays.


By the way, this gives me a chance to tell you (again) about the regular schedule and some of the regular features here on the First Presbyterian Church Blog.

Generally, we will try to have the first post of the day up by just after midnight of the day on which it is scheduled to appear (so that our British, European and African readers can get it first thing in the morning when they are waking up and getting to work and school). Don't forget that you are able to post comments, suggestions and questions on the blog. Our contributors are automatically and immediately alerted when you do.

Well, here's the lineup:

Sundays– Market Day of the Soul, these entries offer resources for preparation for, and reflections on the enjoyment of, public worship on the Lord's Day here at First Pres.

Mondays– Pastor's Perspective, these posts contain my meandering thoughts on life and ministry here at First Presbyterian, reflections and resources on current events, recaps of recent messages, alerts about important events in the life of the church and more.
Blog of the Week, every other week, we'll tip you off on the best of the blogosphere. Anyone who spends time on the web knows that lots of time can be wasted there. We'll point you to the most edifying and informative blogs out there.

Tuesdays– Understanding the Times, Derek's musings and reflections on (usually by Derek) life, theology, culture and "our times." Derek tries to get us to think Christianly about all of life and to live Christianly in all of life.

Wednesdays– Hymns of the Faith, material from our weekly radio program of the same name, focusing on the texts, authors, composers and backgrounds of the best hymns ever written. We hope this is a help and encouragement for you in public and private worship.

Thursdays– Window on the World, Jeremy and Nate look at the world through biblical glasses (or via a biblical window, to keep the metaphor of the title going!), and ask us to think and act biblically in all of life.
Sunday Orders of Service, on Thursday mornings we'll post the upcoming Sunday bulletin to assist you in preparation for worship.

Fridays – Missionary Spotlight, Jeremy introduces you to the evangelists, campus ministers and missionaries supported by First Presbyterian Church.

Saturdays – Sunday's Coming! (by various ministers), quotes and thoughts to help you prepare for the Lord's Day and to ready you for public worship.

Now, this schedule doesn't include Donna's and Ashley's weekly entries. Partly because I don't know if we've/they've come up with a regular name for them (Ashley has one called "From Dishes to Discipleship" which sounds like a keeper to me!), and partly because I don't know whether they want to post on the same day each week. Stay tuned. Also, all of the contributors will make occasional posts, and there will be intermittent features like: Ask the Pastor (a post in which I, or other ministers or staff) respond to your questions.

Merry Christmas!

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Pastor's Perspective

A December Miscellany

Our gatherings for worship on the first Sunday of December were exceedingly blessed. The morning services featured choir and ensemble singing special carols (like Sir David Willcocks’ arrangement of “The Infant King” and Mack Wilberg’s version of “Still, Still, Still) and the congregation’s singing of our first carol of the season, Wesley’s joyful and majestic “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” We also started our study of the Gospel of Luke. The evening service included the ordination of thirty-five new officers: ten elders and twenty-five deacons. Derek’s message was resounding and the occasion solemn and happy and tender and hopeful. My friends, do not underestimate the privileges we regularly share together on the Lord’s Day here in First. It is not always thus.


Now, a few important words on a variety of subjects. First, a brief but strategic comment about our year-end giving. December contributions are always important for us in First Presbyterian Church, and this year particularly so. We are in a time of national and global economic uncertainty, and though your giving has been strong to this point of the year, even through the turbulent days of October and November, December will (as it always does) determine whether we meet our budget and ministry commitments for 2008.

Basically, about 22% of our annual church contributions are given in December. That means, that for our budget to balance this month, something like $1.4 million will have to be received in our general fund. This is roughly three times our normal monthly giving towards the church budget. Now, this (and more) has routinely come in in years past, but this year there is uncertainty. What will replace the gifts of appreciated stock (something which is presumably in rare supply) which often amounted to tens of thousands of our December contributions? What will replace tithes off of partnership shares and bonuses that are non-existent or diminished this year? The only certain answer to this (on our end) is sacrificial giving over and above our commitments on the part of every one of us.

So, let me urge you to faithfulness in generous giving during these final weeks of the year. There are three things, in particular, that I want to emphasize. (1) Be mindful of your year-end giving to the church. It is particularly important this year. (2) Give generously and sacrificially to the ministry budget of the church. (3) Give over and above your tithes and faith promise towards the debt retirement of the remaining cost owed for the sanctuary expansion and building renovation (which is now down to about $4 million).

Now on to another subject. Do remember that this year’s Music of Christmas is at 5:00 o’clock pm on Sunday, December 21. This annual service of lessons and carols has become a beloved tradition. A nursery will be provided. Note that there will only be one service. Come early for your seats.

Let me also remind you that our annual Christmas Eve Family Carol Service (a very special time of singing and joy) will take place, as usual, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, on Wednesday, December 24. Make plans for your whole family to participate.

We will have our Midweek Bible Study and Prayer Meeting, as usual, with supper, on Wednesday night, December 17, but the Family Carol Service will take the place of our regular Wednesday activities on December 24.

Men, thinking ahead to January, on Friday night, January 30, 2008, Rick Phillips (who was an army officer, graduated from the Wharton School and taught leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point), Pastor of Second Presbyterian Church (PCA), Greenville, SC, will be here to preach the Mid-South Men’s Rally. He will also preach for us on the following Sunday morning, both services (February 1, 2008).

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Pastor's Perspective

The Gospel of John, incarnation and trinity

In this season of the year, we often gather our families and read the beautiful accounts of Christ's nativity found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This is good, but we should not forget John. He, too, gives an important account of our Lord's entrance into the world. True there are no shepherds or wise men or mangers in his account, but his words are chock full of glory and joy.

Remember the opening verses? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:1-5).

As J.C. Ryle has reminded us ". . . there are heights and depths in [this passage] which are far beyond man's understanding. And yet there are plain lessons in it which every Christian would do well to treasure up in his mind." Permit me to point to five of these lessons for your edification.

First, note that we learn here that Jesus Christ is eternal ("In the beginning was the Word"). Jesus is here called "the Word" (John explicitly makes the connection in verses 14, 17-18). He was born into the world and born of Mary, but He pre-existed his human birth, and He pre-existed the world itself.

Second, we find that Jesus Christ is a person distinct from the Father ("the Word was with God"). Hence, the Word (the preincarnate Son of God) is not only eternal, but also personal (a He not an it), and indeed He is alongside God the Father eternally.

Third, John boldly states that Jesus Christ is very God ("the Word was God"). This is a straightforward assertion of the deity of our Lord. No other estimation of Jesus will suffice. As Robert L. Dabney once said: "He who believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ is a Christian; he who does not, (whatever his profession), is a mere Deist."

Fourth, Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things ("All things came into being through Him"). Not only is the Word eternally existent, not only is He personal, not only is He ascribed the name of God, but He is also the Creator (a task which every good Jew knew was performed by God alone).

Fifth, Jesus Christ is the source of all spiritual life ("In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men"). John tells us that the Word, the Lord Jesus is the only Hope and Savior of the world because all life and light reside By the way, in a nutshell, we have here the rudiments of Scriptural doctrine of the trinity. That is, though there is but one true God, there is an eternal personal fellowship between the divine Word and God, the Word shares the name of God, and the Word does the works of God. Correlate with this passage the New Testament teachings on the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit, and you have the doctrine of the trinity: one God in three Persons.

What a glorious passage on which to reflect in this season of the year. Ryle urged: "Would we know . . . the strength of a true Christian's foundation for hope? Let us often read these first five verses of St John's Gospel. Let us mark that the Saviour in whom the believer is bid to trust is nothing less than the eternal God. . . . In ourselves we are great sinners. But in Jesus Christ we have a great Saviour." May you share this message this faithfully and may it be your everlasting comfort.

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Pastor's Perspective

Thanksgiving in Mississippi, 1847

Today, since Thanksgiving Day is just three days hence, I want to share again one of my favorite, local history, Thanksgiving stories. Do let me remind you, though, to be on the lookout for our new "Blog of the Week" feature that will be posted at 10 AM today.

A number of years ago, the late Otho Johnson (who was one of our Ruling Elders) pointed me to this interesting historical note, relating to The Rev. L. J. Halsey, who was the minister of our congregation, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson from 1842-1848.

THANKSGIVING AS VIEWED BY A CITIZEN

John Munn, who was born in Connecticut, was a merchant and banker living in Canton, Mississippi, when Governor Brown issued his Thanksgiving proclamation. Mr. Munn recorded in his journal on November 25, 1847:

"An unusual scene has been witnessed in our village and state this day. By appointment of Governor Brown it was selected as a day of Thanksgiving and for the first time in this state has such a date been set apart for such purpose. This good old New England custom was a long time confined to those states in time was adopted by the Western and middle states and for the last few years had gradually come to be observed in many of the Southern states, and on this day and this year about two thirds of the states unite in rendering thanks for the mercies and benefits received during the year now drawing to a close.

"There is something grateful and pleasant to the feeling of any man of right thought and mind in contemplating such a scene, but how much more so to one who was born on the soil of New England as he sees state after state adopting so advisable a custom. Far away from that birthplace, the observance of the day here brings a flood of recollections.

"In our village the day has been observed in a manner that would have given ample satisfaction to the most rigid observer of such days in the times of its earliest appointment. All business was suspended and quiet prevailed in our streets. There was a general attendance at church to listen to the Rev. Mr. Halsey of Jackson and seldom have I listened to a more interesting and appropriate sermon. It was well adapted for a people who were assembled for the first time for such a purpose, and those listening attentively could not but have been instructed in the objects of those who first established the custom and the reasons that demand its observance

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Pastor's Perspective

Thinking about the Prime Thing

Welcome to the inauagural Pastor's Perspective column on the First Presbyterian Jackson Blog. I want to start with a question (though I'll ask it with a series of questions). What are your aims in life? What are your real goals? When no one is listening, what do you say to yourself that your true desires are? What do you think of most, want most, long for most? Perhaps you are striving for financial security or professional achievement. Or yearning for a husband or wife or children. Or longing to be loved by your mate. Or wishing for a relationship with good communication. Or hoping to escape the shadows of past tragedies or present trials. Or aching for relief from pain. Or looking to become a better father or mother. Or to become a more successful student. Or for acceptance and friendship. Or seeking some elusive peace and happiness. I may not have touched on your particular objective or preoccupation, but you get the point -- you can fill in the blank.

Now none of these things is illegitimate in itself, but can any of them count among the “first things,” -- should any of them be our prime ambition? Is there something greater, something higher under which all these dreams are subsumed? You know the right answer because you’ve heard the Shorter Catechism tell you that “Man’s chief end is to glorify and enjoy God.” But is that your answer? Is that what you really think? And, more importantly, is that how you live? Is knowing God truly what you want? Do you want him more than anything else? Does this aim reflect itself in your priorities?

God made us to know him. This saving knowledge is the “eternal life” that Jesus gives. On the night before he was crucified, Jesus prayed to God with and for his disciples in the Upper Room, and this is one of the things that he said in that prayer to his Father: “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3).

This then ought to be our prime aim in life: to know the triune God through Jesus Christ. Such an aim and such a knowledge will not mean that all your struggles disappear and that all your wishes are immediately realized, but as J. I. Packer has said: “Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord.” It is my prayer that we will be, together, characterized by our mutual pursuit of the first thing.

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