“If we delight in a strong Savior, we delight in his saved subjects. Piper clarified his observation by noting that the tapestry is not more precious than the One who wove it, but “If we delight in a generous King, we delight in the fruit of such kingliness-happy subjects. Then Piper quoted from 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “What is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” The ones who love and serve and give and wait for the Lord Jesus. But mainly I simply marvel at the tapestry God has woven.” A few thousand of them are recorded in my journal, if I choose to look at them. It was he and not I who wove them into the tapestry that I now look back on with wonder. “It strips away a few million details that at the time seemed major, and it leaves only the big outlines. “Memory has a way of simplifying things,” he noted. To launch his final advent messages, Piper sent a newsletter to his parishioners, “Hungry People Make a Happy Pastor,” which began with sentimental reflections on the beautiful “tapestry” God wove at the church, noting that he spent half the Christmas seasons of his life with one flock. Piper will retire next March from his role as pastor for preaching and teaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. John Piper, the esteemed pastor, author, and theologian, who trumpets the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples in Jesus Christ, is delivering his final advent messages to the church where he has ministered for 33 years.
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