The Master Passion

Pastor Harold Warner

I’m sorry. I don’t have an unlimited supply of revelation, especially when it comes to raising children.

That’s why my contribution to the Bullseye is usually dependent on and related to the theme of the individual issue chosen by the Bullseye team. In this case, Marriage and Family: God’s Master Plan.

There are a lot of things about Jesus Christ and the Bible that carry with them a Wow! factor.

One of them definitely has to be the fact of God’s plans and purposes.

Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are His riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and his methods!”

The Message paraphrase put it this way: “Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God; this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.”

So the question becomes, What is God’s master plan? We already know it’s way above our pay grade!

Marriage and family, as wonderful as it is, and though it is part of God’s plan from creation, is not His master plan.

You have to go higher than that to really tap into God’s master plan because everything else of value will flow from this.

God’s master plan, the goal behind everything He does, is this: IT IS ALL FOR HIS GLORY.

In the final analysis, everything is motivated by this. God’s first consideration is for His reputation.

Yes, God is gracious and incredibly generous toward us on a regular basis, but His own glory motivates Him.

Where do we see this in effect, this master plan we’re talking about and trying to get our heads around?

Acts 15:14 tells us, “Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.”  The purpose behind the miracle of the church and God’s plan of evangelism is His own glory. He did it “for His name.”

Our great need for forgiveness is motivated by this as well. Psalm 25:11 says, “For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”  The psalmist didn’t say, “God, you have to forgive me; after all, that’s who You are; that’s what You do.” No. He prayed, “God, do it, please, for Your glory.”

Our overall and daily need is for God’s help, grace, wisdom and direction. Psalm 78:8-9 says, “Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, for we have been brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, for Your name's sake!”

I think you’re getting the picture.

This same Master Plan directly impacts God’s purpose and plan for marriage. Yes, it’s certainly true that God said, “It’s not good that man be alone; I will make a helper for him.” But the master plan behind this, too, is “for My name’s sake.”

That means that God has invested His reputation in frail human beings along with His wonderful plan relating to marriage.

What does that mean in a practical setting for our lives? It means that we need to make God’s glory, not our needs or our desire for personal happiness, the centerpiece of our marriage and the raising of our children.

I should love my wife, respect my husband, raise my children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.... all for His glory and His name’s sake. That is God’s master plan!

Two things stand out here, to wrap all this up. The first is our responsibility.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). This should be the ultimate question and concern in all that we do: does this bring glory to God and honor to His Name?

When Steve and Shirley Anderson renewed their 25th anniversary wedding vows he said to me, “I just want Jesus to look good!”  That’s what it means to be a people for His glory! Making Jesus look bigger, better and more beautiful before the eyes of a watching and needy world.

The second thing is a warning. Romans 2:24 says, “For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written.”

The worst thing that could happen is not that I would fall, mess up my life and the lives of others. No. The worst thing is that I would do damage to God’s name and reputation!

So let this be our determination, beloved. Let us realize the wonder of God’s plan that we are caught up in, and that this is the greatest thing in the heaven above or the earth beneath. For the glory of Your name, Lord!

God made things perfectly clear when he said through the prophet, “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8).

The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is:

Q1. What is the chief aim of man?
A1. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             I don’t think I can improve on that. That’s why when Paul was describing his whole approach to life and ministry he said, “giving no cause for offense in anything, in order that the ministry be not discredited” (II Corinthians 6:3).

Hey, that’s a perfect fit: a perfect plan for your life and marriage today!