For Lord’s Day, September 12, 2021

Dear Saints,

After his opening discourse we reviewed recently from Thomas Watson’s Body of Divinity (which can be read here in my MeetthePuritans.org article that was just published yesterday), he first focuses on the Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 1: “What is man’s chief end?”, which answers, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

Watson writes: “The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions.” 

So 1 Cor. 10:31 reminds us, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. And  Col. 3:17 guides us: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  This is what we were originally created for, and this is what we were recreated in redemption for.

But what is it to glorify God?  Watson notes that glorifying God consists of four things:

1. Appreciation (“set God highest in our thoughts … have God-admiring thoughts”: Psalms 92:8; 97:9);
2. Adoration (“worship”, Psalm 29:2);
3. Affection (“when he is loved”:  Deut. 6:5; Psalm 116:1, “True saints are seraphim, burning in holy love to God.”; and,
4. Subjection (“when we dedicate ourselves to God, and stand ready dressed for his service.” Matt. 2:11, 1 Sam. 12:32).

Beloved, God helping us by the Holy Spirit through the blood of Christ as guided by His Word, may the appreciation, adoration, and having affection for subjection to our great, glorious, and gracious God run through all our actions like a silver thread!

Semper Reformanda,

Pastor Grant