When all our focus and energy is on honoring God you would think we would get lost in the process. However it is just the opposite. It is when and where we find ourselves most and experience our Greatest Fulfillment.
What does get lost is our trying to find that fulfillment on our own, apart from or outside of God.
But it is no less *our fulfillment we are experiencing. Our fulfillment is legitimate and important not just to us but to God. He created us to experience and enjoy Him and in so doing finding our Greatest Joy and fulfillment in Him.
In turn He experiences his own in bringing us ours. God is driven to bring joy and **delight to others in and through himself, the source of life, love and all things. God is thrilled when we delight in Him. He finds great **delight in our doing so.
But all this is the result of honoring God, not the goal of it. To say it simply our greatest joy (fulfillment) is bringing highest honor to another. And not just to anyone but to the one being that is honorable above all others and most worthy of all honor; God the Creator and Giver of all things.
yearns
ἐπιποθεῖ (epipothei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1971: From epi and potheo; to dote upon, i.e. Intensely crave possession.
spirit-
πνεῦμα (pneuma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.
He caused to dwell -
What does get lost is our trying to find that fulfillment on our own, apart from or outside of God.
But it is no less *our fulfillment we are experiencing. Our fulfillment is legitimate and important not just to us but to God. He created us to experience and enjoy Him and in so doing finding our Greatest Joy and fulfillment in Him.
But all this is the result of honoring God, not the goal of it. To say it simply our greatest joy (fulfillment) is bringing highest honor to another. And not just to anyone but to the one being that is honorable above all others and most worthy of all honor; God the Creator and Giver of all things.
For more on whether our desires are good or bad? Click here
Created for glory II
Crowned with glory and honor
Giving and receiving glory
Why God calls us to glorify him
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*Desiring fulfillment isn't in question. It is a matter of how do we best experience fulfillment - by seeking it directly, independent of God or by seeking God and in doing so finding our greatest fulfillment. The Bible says it is only possible by the latter.
The most amazing part is this is central to the very being of God himself. The Father finds greatest joy in exalting his Son and the Son in exalting his Father. That delight, love, and joy is God and manifests as God's Spirit. God is Spirit and He is Love.
*Desiring fulfillment isn't in question. It is a matter of how do we best experience fulfillment - by seeking it directly, independent of God or by seeking God and in doing so finding our greatest fulfillment. The Bible says it is only possible by the latter.
The most amazing part is this is central to the very being of God himself. The Father finds greatest joy in exalting his Son and the Son in exalting his Father. That delight, love, and joy is God and manifests as God's Spirit. God is Spirit and He is Love.
Because we are like God, we too find greatest fulfillment in this same way i.e. exalting another. God not only instructs us toward this end and in this way but actually lives this Himself and leads by example. This is who God is.
**...Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us' ”? - James 4:5 ESV
yearns
ἐπιποθεῖ (epipothei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1971: From epi and potheo; to dote upon, i.e. Intensely crave possession.
spirit-
πνεῦμα (pneuma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.
He caused to dwell -
κατῴκισεν (katōkisen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2730: To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside.
There is something about us - our breath-spirit-life-being - he put in us that he longs to engage, he values, and prizes.
What is that something? Our being like God - in his image. He longs for himself - i.e. that which is like Him - in us. Since he created us like him - in his image, he longs for us.
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2730: To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside.
There is something about us - our breath-spirit-life-being - he put in us that he longs to engage, he values, and prizes.
What is that something? Our being like God - in his image. He longs for himself - i.e. that which is like Him - in us. Since he created us like him - in his image, he longs for us.
