Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Christ Magnified in my LIfe...or Death

My Bible reading highlight this morning was Phil 1.20. I am wondering what Paul meant that his eager expectation and hope was that Christ would be magnified in his body, whether in life or death. I'll reveal heavy influence from Jonathan Edwards via John Piper here. Christ is magnified in Paul's life (and in mine) when he is the object of our devotion above all other things. Is there something I hold more dear than Christ? Then he is not magnified in my life. If he is all and everything; if he is the object of my devotion, then he is magnified (BDAG interprets the Greek word in this way: to cause to be held in greater esteem through praise or deeds, exalt, glorify, magnify, speak highly of ). Piper puts this as "making Christ look great" both in my deeds and devotion. May Paul's desire, be my desire. May Christ be all.

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