Why does God choose to work through His children to spread the gospel, which is itself the power of God unto salvation?
A hypothetical:
A father has two sons. They both attend school, and each day the father packs both their lunches for school. One day, the younger son, unsatisfied after his lunch, is caught stealing food during lunch time. Below are two possible scenarios.
Scenario 1: The father, who is loving, kind, understanding, and bears all the fruits of a good father says, “Son, why did you steal food? Do you not know that I love you? If you are hungry, ask me, and I will feed you.”
Scenario 2: Before this good father speaks, the older brother speaks “Brother, why did you steal food? Do you not know that our father loves us? If you are hungry, ask him, and he will surely feed you.”
I think the father is more glorified in Scenario 2.
-Scott
I love your introduction to the Scratchpad. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and allowing a wider audience to meditate on gospel realities and life in union with Christ. I see the Father's heart overflowing with love in these scenarios. He waits to be gracious and exalts himself to show mercy (Is 30:18). In love for his son, he goes to him and reminds him of that love and mercy. In a sense, he can't help it, it's who He is. (Ex 34:6; Is 43:4; 1 Jn 4:7-8). His heart of love is shown through the brother who goes to restore his sibling who has forgotten the love & kindness of their Father (Gal 6:1-2).
No part of the Father's glory is diminished in these scenarios, but as you allude to, I see a special delight in the Father's heart as his child speaks on his behalf and shares of his inexhaustible love. In a word, images the Beloved Son who manifests the name and love of the Father to all whom the Father has called to himself and placed in his family (Jn 17:4-6).
Read recently of the great miracle that the church - all the sons & daughters of God - is in this world. The author describes the church as "conceived in the vey heart of God...it is the recipient of His love - the delight of His heart and the heir of His glory. It is the witness to His salvation - the living embodiment of His intention for the world." When the Father's children bear witness to His love & care, they fulfill his gracious intention and he is glorified!
I have been thinking similarly about prayer lately. I think it glorifies God when we pray for each other and ask others to pray for us. We’re not alone on the journey.