A question that Pastor John Piper often asks is, “Do you feel more loved by God when He makes much of you, or when He frees you so that you can make much of Him?” In asking this question, Piper is not suggesting that God does not make much of us; God does make much of us. The question is intended to cause us to consider this choice: Would we rather God make us the center of His universe, or God help us to make Him the center of ours? God loves us by giving us the latter, not the former. Therefore we should love others in the same fashion that God loves us. Our goal should not be to love others by making much of them, though not neglecting this task. Our ultimate goal should be becoming vessels in the process of freeing others so that they can make much of God. And in doing so, we will achieve the highest form of love for them.
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