It’s all about the
center:
the holy place,
the focus of it
all.
It’s all about the
center stage,
who commands
the spotlight.
It’s all about the
hero’s casting,
who receives the
glory.
It’s all about the
highest throne,
where power and rule
sit.
It’s all about the
final word,
whose will will then
be done.
The center place
belongs to
you
the center stage
your domain.
You are the hero
of the
narrative
all glory goes to
you.
The highest throne is
your right
the world will bow
to you.
May I never
crave to have
what should belong
to you.
May I never demand
the spotlight
shining from eternity
on you.
May I never covet
your throne
and set up my own
rule.
May grace protect
my heart
from questing to be
you.
By grace may I
submit with
joy
resting in your
rule.
May mercy
lead me to your
throne
surrendering all
to you.
You are my Light
You are my King
Creator Lord
Savior Lamb
Son of Man
Son of God.
All that I am
all that I have
I give it all
to you.
“Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
(Romans 11:33–36, ESV)
That final verse says it all. Life is not about us.
It’s not about our wants, our needs, or our feelings. It’s not about our comfort, pleasure, and ease. It’s not about us getting our personal definition of happiness. It’s not about our satisfaction and contentment.
It’s not about how many of our dreams we actually get to experience. It’s not about our successes and achievements. It’s not about how successfully we avoid difficulty and suffering. It’s not about how well our relationships are working.
It’s not wrong to desire personal happiness, peace, a functioning body, and healthy relationships. The issue is this—these things must not rule our hearts because when they do, they place us at the center of our world and make it all about us.
Sadly, many professing Christians, Paul Tripp included, live in a God-forgetting and God-replacing manner. We put ourselves in the center, decide for ourselves what we want life to be like, and reduce God to little more than the delivery system for our catalog of self-oriented dreams.
Today, remember and celebrate. Remember that all that exists, including us, is from God, exists through him, and points to him.
He is the beginning, the center, and the end of all things. His will is preeminent and will be done. His kingdom will come. Grace decimates our lordship and causes us to bow to the one true Lord.
Only by grace can we celebrate a lordship other than our own.
God bless,
Paul David Tripp
Reflection Questions
1. Where do you see yourself as the hero of your life story? In other words, are you taking credit for what only God could produce? Where have you experienced success and blessing that is only the result of God’s generous blessing, regardless of how hard you worked?
2. How have you tried to command the spotlight and direct it on yourself? Are there ways in your life, perhaps most notably in your relationships, where you are demanding to be the leading actor, and everyone else plays a supporting role?
3. Read Philippians 2: 4-8. In those same relationships, how can you “look to the interests of others, empty yourself, take the form of a servant,” and play a supporting role?
4. In the past, have you reduced God to a delivery system for your catalog of self-oriented dreams? If he didn’t deliver what you think you needed and according to your timeline, how did you respond to him? Are you at risk of doing the same today in any way?
5. What does it practically mean for you to live out the statement, “For from him and through him and to him are all things” and “to him be glory forever”?