Striking from Acts 12 is God's top priority of bring glory to His name. Look what He will do in order to display the reality that He alone is sovereign and worthy of worship and capable of giving life or taking it. God brings glory to Himself through Peter's escape, but also through James' execution. His great zeal is for the growth of His word... which, of course, is the growth of His fame. Two good quotes hi-lite this:
The highest of missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing (strong as that incentive is, especially when we contemplate the wrath of God . . .), but rather zeal—burning and passionate zeal—for the glory of Jesus Christ. . . . Only one imperialism is Christian. . . and that is concern for His Imperial Majesty Jesus Christ, and for the glory of his empire. –John Stott
All the earth-shaking awesome forces unleashed on the world are released by the Lord Jesus Christ. He reigns today. He is in the control room of the universe. He is the only Ultimate Cause; all the sins of man and machinations of Satan ultimately have to enhance the glory and kingdom of our Saviour. This is true of our world today—in wars, famines, earthquakes, or the evil that apparently has the ascendancy. All God’s actions are just and loving. We have become too enemy-conscious, and can over-do the spiritual warfare aspect of intercession. We need to be more God-conscious, so that we can laugh the laugh of faith knowing that we have power over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). He has already lost control because of Calvary where the Lamb was slain. What confidence and rest of heart this gives us as we face a world in turmoil and such spiritual need. --Patrick Johnstone
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