The Purpose of Man
The purpose of man is to show forth God's wisdom, grace, and might, and to be a joy to Him.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the profound love and joy that God has for His people, as depicted in Zephaniah 3:17, where God is mighty to save, rejoice, rest in His love, and sing over His beloved. She emphasizes that God's requirements are not out of severity but out of His kindness, desiring for souls to open themselves to receive His abundant blessings. Tileston encourages that although the journey may seem difficult at first, surrendering to God brings ease, sweetness, and fulfillment, as God diligently teaches and guides His children back to Himself, desiring earnestly for all to know Him fully.
Text
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love; He will joy over thee with singing.
ZEPHANIAH 3:17
MADE for Thyself, 0 God!
Made for Thy love, Thy service, Thy delight;
Made to show forth Thy wisdom, grace and might;
Made for Thy praise, whom veiled archangels laud;
0 strange and glorious thought, that we may be
A joy to Thee.
F. R. HAVERGAL
IT is not of God's severity that He requires much from man; it is of His great kindness that He will have the soul to open herself wider, to be able to receive much, that He may bestow much upon her. Let no one think that it is hard to attain thereunto. Although it sound hard, and is hard at first, as touching the forsaking and dying to all things, yet, when one has reached this state, no life can be easier, or sweeter, or fuller of pleasures; for God is right diligent to be with us at all seasons, and to teach us, that He may bring us to Himself, when we are like to go astray. None of us ever desired anything more ardently than God desires to bring men to the knowledge of Himself.
J. TAULER
God always fills in all hearts all the room which is left Him there.
F. W. FABER
Sermon Outline
- The Purpose of Man
- Made for God's Love and Service
- Made to Show Forth God's Wisdom, Grace, and Might
- Made for God's Praise
Key Quotes
“God is right diligent to be with us at all seasons, and to teach us, that He may bring us to Himself, when we are like to go astray.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“God always fills in all hearts all the room which is left Him there.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“None of us ever desired anything more ardently than God desires to bring men to the knowledge of Himself.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We can make room for God in our lives by being open to His presence and teaching.
- A deeper relationship with God brings ease, sweetness, and fullness of pleasures in life.
- God desires to bring men to the knowledge of Himself, and we should desire the same for others.