Here is the exciting a liberating truth about our identity in Ephesians. If god’s purpose in saving me was to make me part of his family and if that was ultimately in order to display ss as his church in order to show off “the riches of his grace”, then I do not need to be anxious about whether or not I’m going to fulfil my purpose. I already have.
I was made to worship God, which means I was made to glorify him. Creation glorifies God simply by being his creation. Redeemed Creation glorifies God by being redeemed. We glorify God because we are saved, we are evidence of his grace.
Forty years ago, John Piper’s revolutionary thesis was that we glorify God by enjoying him forever. This truth gives more flavour to that. We glorify God by enjoying him because that is all there is for us to do, simply to enjoy and delight in his love and grace lavished on us. You see, as we enjoy him, we shine for him. We glitter as we reflect his brightness and beauty.
Indeed, perhaps Piper did not take us far enough. Yes, we glorify God by enjoying him but if we already glorify him simply by our very existence as new creations, then perhaps we should also say that we enjoy God by glorifying him.
This is liberating because I no longer need to be anxious about goals, bucket lists, career paths or expectations. I cannot achieve more than what God has already achieved. My identity and value cannot be improved on or diminished by any still to be achieved accomplishment.
Faithroots 