Reading Reflection:
September 7, 2011
Think, John Piper (Crossway, 2010)
This book is meant to encourage thinkers. To be honest, I’m not a big reader of Piper’s books. One thing that I do appreciate from him that I forgot about was his passion for God. It is so apparent on every page. Here is one excerpt of the book geared toward those who believe knowledge is cold, and love is all you need:
The main reason that thinking and loving are connected is that we cannot love God without knowing God; and the way we know God is by the Spirit-enabled use of our minds. So to “love God with all your mind” means engaging all your powers of thought to know God as fully as possible in order to treasure him for all he is worth. God is not honored by groundless love. In fact, there is no such thing. If we do not know anything about God, there is nothing in our mind to awaken love. If love does not come from knowing God, there is no point calling it love for God. There may be some vague attraction in our heart or some unfocused gratitude in our soul, but if they do not arise from knowing God, they are not love for God (90).This is why it is necessary for us all to be good theologians. We are commanded to love God with all of our mind and with all of our heart. Piper does a good job in this book by expositionally directing the reader to the sweet spot where they meet. Knowing a person is an intimate engagement. I am so glad that I am first truly known by God, and that his initiating love has led my sinful heart to forever want to know more of him. The more my knowledge of God grows, the more I cling to his irresistible grace. And the more fully I know him, the more he is glorified.
