The Pastor’s Corner

Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, (2 Tim. 3:16, Eph. 2:20) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (1 John 1:3–4)

Prayer: Almighty God and our Father, we praise you for giving us your Word, which sustains and guides and directs our path. As the only rule by which we can know how to glorify you, we are grateful that you have given us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the Spirit to teach us all that we must know to please you. Forgive us for failing to mediate on the bread of life. Forgive us for spending so much energy in fruitless pursuits and not on your Word. Forgive us for failing to use the means of grace that you have graciously provided that we would live holy lives before you. We pray that your Word would never return void and that it will accomplish all your holy will. We pray that it would be used in such as way as to point many to their great need and then cause them to look to Christ. We pray these things in His name. Amen.

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Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, (2 Tim. 3:16, Eph. 2:20) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (1 John 1:3–4)

Prayer: Our God in heaven, we thank you that you are a God who has revealed himself to us through your inspired and infallible Word. We live in a world that seeks counsel and knowledge from fallible sources, but you have given us your Word -- the very mind of the living and true God -- that we might know how we are to live. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It is profitable for us in its instruction, doctrine, reproof, and correction. We know that as we hear your Word, you have also called us to obey it. We confess that we often take it for granted. So often, we hear your Word and fail to take seriously those things we read and hear. Forgive us for a low appetite of your Word and grant to us a greater hungering and thirsting for it. We pray these things in the name of the living Word, your Son, and our Lord. Amen.

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A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 11:36; Ps. 73:25-28.

Prayer: Our loving and faithful God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we bless the name of the Lord Jesus today as the only name given to men whereby we can be saved. We thank you that you are a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God who has made promises for his children. We have been made to glorify you in all that we do. We have also been made to enjoy you forever. We know that we see a tiny fraction of what that will be like in the New Heavens and the New Earth. We long for that day when the distractions and cares of this world, including our sin of omission and commission, will not impede that enjoyment. We long for that day when there will be no more tears or sorrow or pain. We cry out to you, our Savior, to come quickly, Lord. Until then, we ask that you would persevere us by your Spirit working in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight. We pray this is the name that is above every name -- the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Prayer: Our God in heaven, we come to bless and praise you for your many mercies. We thank you that you are not like the dead idols of Israel as you see and hear and speak. They were impotent, but you are omnipotent. You can do exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything we can ask or imagine. We thank you for the daily outpouring of faithfulness to us as your redeemed children. We confess that there are many times in our lives that we are faithless. We know that your sins deserve your wrath, but, in Christ, you have not treated us as our sins deserve.

Today, as we gather to worship you, we pray that you would speak to us through your Word. We long to see you exalted and your Son magnified. We need your Spirit to worship you as you have commanded. Please cause us to listen with minds ready to receive the Word and then go and do what it tells us. We pray that your voice would thunder as in days of old when you spoke to our fathers from your holy mountain. We pray that we would heed your voice and strive to live as faithful ambassadors of the Most High God. We pray these things in the Name of Christ our Lord and King. Amen.

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Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 11:36; Ps. 73:25-28.

Prayer: Our glorious God in heaven, we thank you for granting us another day in which we have the privilege to serve you and love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are reminded that we are here to serve you, honoring you in all that we do and say. We confess our tendency to stray from our primary purpose. We grieve the sin that indwells us, and we long to be free from it so that we may fully enjoy you. We rest confidently in that hope of the new heavens and the new earth where we will be fully blessed in the full enjoyment of you for all of eternity. Until then, please grant the Eternal Spirit to persevere us and help us, equipping us to glorify you in all that we do. We pray these things in the name of Christ. Amen.

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NOTE: Several months ago, I was writing the daily prayer using the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I got away from that practice. Today, I am renewing my effort to do so.

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 11:36; Ps. 73:25-28.

Prayer: Our God in heaven, you who are the alone creator and sustainer of heaven and earth and the one who has made man in your image, we bless your name today. We know that as your creatures, we have been made to glorify you in all we do. Your word tells us whether we are eating, drinking, working, resting, reading, talking -- whatever it is, that our actions and attitudes should honor you and your holy Word. We confess that we do not always have this central truth firmly established in our minds. We know that if we did, we would sin less against you. Forgive us for failing to make this a priority in our daily living. Please help us, by your Spirit, to honor you with all of our being in thought, word, and deed. We pray these things n the name of the Savior, our Lord. Amen.

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