Wisdom and Words from Piper

Many times I include my own reflections for this site, however I recently read a passage in John Piper's classic work on missions: Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions which stopped my in my tracks.  In the following passage, Piper elaborates on his main thesis and gave me quite a bit to think about recently.  I figured that I would do the same by passing it along to all of you.

Piper writes:  "Missions exists because worship doesn't. . . This is the ultimate problem in the world. . .

The glory of God is not honored.
The holiness of God is not reverenced.
The greatness of God is not admired.
The power of God is not praised.
The truth of God is not sought.
The wisdom of God is not esteemed.
The beauty of God is not treasured.
The goodness of God is not savored.
The faithfulness of God is not trusted.
The commandments of God are not obeyed.
The justice of God is not respected.
The wrath of God is not feared.
The grace of God is not cherished.
The presence of God is not prized [or practiced].
The person of God is not loved.

. . . That is the ultimate reason for missions.

[Missions seeks to make worshipers of people from all tongues, tribes, and nations so that God is valued.]

a valuing of God above all else that is valuable
a loving of God above all else that is lovely
a savoring of God above all else that is sweet
an admiring of God above all else that is admirable
a fearing of God above all else that is fearful
a respecting of God above all else that is respectable
a prizing of God above all else that is precious . . . .  (Piper 230-1)