John Owen is my favorite dead guy right about now, so I’ll share a pregnant quote by him that has stimulated my own affections here today in hopes that it will likewise bless you.
“Divine excellencies are a proper, adequate object of our love….not only that which is the proper object of love is in the divine excellencies, but it is there only perfectly and absolutely, without the mixture of anything that should give it an alloy, as there is in all creatures, they are the most suitable and adequate object of our love.
There is no greater discovery of the depravation of our natures by sin and degeneracy of our wills from their original rectitude, than that—whereas we are so prone to the love of other things, and therein do seek for satisfaction unto our souls where it is not to be obtained—it is so hard and difficult to raise our hearts unto the love of God. Were it not for that depravation, he would always appear as the only suitable and satisfactory object of our affections.” (Works, Volume 1), 151.
This is why, when filled with (or controlled by) the Spirit we find ourselves so praising, rejoicing, delighting, and enjoying God. It is then that the sinfully magnetic pull away from the pleasurable things of heaven are eclipsed by the gracious sip of the waters of delight in Christ.
Obviously the opposite is true as we congregate around the dumpster of the world, enjoying the backwash of sin and the spoiled milk of our own falleness; it is here that we are demonstrating depravity and the pattern of the first Adam.
So let us line up behind the second Adam, our gracious and perfect Head, esteeming and enjoying the sacred privilege of communion with God while supremely valuing the divine excellencies.
1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
