With starting a new year my last few notes have related to having a purpose and intentionally planning, acting, and persevering in alignment with it. As you know, if you have followed this blog/podcast, my purpose and identity are found in Jesus. I love him. He died and rose again to save me, and anyone who trusts him, from the death that results due to our self-centered waywardness that we are all guilty of. I am forever grateful for his gracious sacrifice and offer of new life. I want others to experience the abundant, everlasting life with God that I have found.
Jesus Is My Reason
Following Jesus is much more than a religious exercise. Of all the philosophies and pursuits in life, Christianity is the only one that sufficiently answers life’s core questions like where do we come from, why are we here, how should I live, what’s right, what’s wrong, and where are we going? Jesus is the most precious and amazing person I have ever met and he deserves all glory. He is fully God the beginning, middle, end, and grand reason for all creation. Yet mysteriously he also became a man. Two thousand years ago, he stepped down from heaven to take on flesh and live among us to show us who God is and enable us to know God. He loves everyone even though no one deserves it. He rises above all in virtuous character and almighty power. He is all knowing and faithfully acts in accordance with his perfect, benevolent nature and wisdom. He will put an end to evil and reward believers when he finalizes his kingdom.
My daughter, Hannah, and I were talking this week about glory and what it means to glorify God. She even asked how does someone glorify God. Maybe you are wondering the same thing. It is well worth considering, because I am convinced that ultimate purpose of people is to glorify God and joyfully fellowship with him. The Westminster Shorter Catechism states, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” This conclusion is drawn from what the Bible teaches. Here are a few passages:
- “For everything comes from him [God] and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever!” (Romans 11:36).
- “You [believers] do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body…So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 6:20, 10:31).
- “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11).
Millions of people throughout history have come to realize that their purpose is to bring God glory. Therefore they have surrendered living life on their own terms in favor of receiving God’s much better, everlasting life by faith. I desire to do the same.
Glory
What does it mean to glorify God? Glory means weight in Hebrew. It has to do with completeness, distinction, magnificence, beauty, honor, awe, and splendor. Jonathan Edwards, the renowned 18th century pastor, theologian, and educator, described the glory of God as the weight of all God is—the fullness of his wisdom, character, and joy. God doesn’t need glory. He is all-sufficient within his triune Godhead of Father, Son, and Spirit. We are the ones who need to glorify God, for in doing so it changes us for the best. God alone deserves glory. He created us and loves us. He wants what is best for us which is himself—to be one with him, to be like him, and to do what he does. When we trust and follow Jesus, God transforms us into all we are meant to be in Jesus and works through us to help others become who they are meant to be in Jesus. Nothing is more important or worthwhile.
How to Glorify God
Jesus, God the Son, is our example in all that is good, right, and loving. He glorifies God the Father by submitting to the Father in everything he says and does, even when he took on flesh and ministered in person on earth. After he died, rose again, and ascended back to heaven, he asked the Father to send God the Spirit, to help every person who believes in Jesus. God’s Spirit dwells within believers to counsel, comfort, convict, teach, train, and empower them to follow Jesus and become like him. The Spirit’s role is to glorify Jesus. Can you see the circular chain of divine glory you are graciously invited to join? First, God the Father orchestrates glory for the entire triune Godhead by loving the Son and the Spirit so abundantly that it overflows into all he has created, especially people (Ephesians 1:3-14). Then, the Son lovingly glorifies the Father through humble, complete obedience (Philippians 2:6-11, John 4:34, 5:19-20, 7:16, 8:28-29, 17:3-6). The Spirit lovingly glorifies the Son by serving to promote Jesus in believer’s lives (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13). Believers lovingly glorify God by yielding to the control and direction of God’s Spirit. Your purpose in life is to make the most of Jesus—to align with God’s Spirit by faith so that the magnificence and splendor of Jesus lights our dark and fallen world to help save lost and broken people (Ephesians 5:15-20). As all of creation comes under the headship of Jesus by the Spirit it brings glory to God (Ephesians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
The apostle Paul encouraged believers along this line. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).
The Bible mentions several ways you can glorify God as you align your way with God’s way by his grace and power. I’ll briefly spotlight four of them.
- Rejoice “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Develop an attitude of gratitude. Devote time to thanking God for who he is, what he has done, and what he will do. Rejoice even amidst difficulty, trusting that God will work good from it as he has promised. Learn hymns and choruses. Sing and worship alone and with others. Regularly partake in communion, remembering all Jesus has done for those who believe in him.
- Bear Fruit Jesus taught that he is the vine and believers in him are the branches. They joyfully bear fruit to God’s glory as they lovingly remain in him. The fruit is the character and conduct of Jesus that the Spirit of God develops in those who abide in Jesus. This godly character and conduct results in others coming to know God through Jesus also (John 15:1-17; Galatians 5:22). “For we [believers] are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).
- Abide To abide or remain in Jesus involves joyfully resting in him by surrendering to his loving authority and life-giving words of truth. Finding your completeness in Jesus produces an active faith expressed by hope, loyalty, trust, and obedience. Given the victory over sin and death and the abundant, everlasting life Jesus has made possible for people through his death and resurrection, abiding in Jesus compels you to share his love and salvation to help others reconcile with God. Jesus told his followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
- Seek Unity It is to God’s glory that you unite with him and with other believers so more and more people can come to know God. Jesus prayed to God the Father for this, “May they [people who believe in Jesus] also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:21-24).
With these four characteristics of glorifying God in mind, one way to begin practcing them is to establish rhythms of grace into daily lifestyle. With God’s help here are six rhythms I prayerfully try to do: Sing God’s praises, study his word, share his truth, serve people, stand in the gap to intercede for others, and stay dependent on him.
Conclusion
Whose glory will you pursue this year: yours or God’s? You were lovingly created to be the image bearer of almighty God as his dear child (Genesis 1:26-28). Although we have all strayed from that or continue to stray like foolish sheep, listen to the call of the good shepherd, Jesus, and come back to his fold today (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; John 10:1-18). Your glory causes death, but God’s glory imparts life. Jesus taught, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:23-26). Seek God’s kingdom first and his righteousness, and he promises to supply all your needs (Matthew 6:33). By trusting and obeying Jesus you will far surpass anything you could hope to achieve on your own. A branch must remain in the vine to thrive and bear fruit. Likewise you must draw your life from Jesus. Apart from him you can’t do anything of eternal significance (John 15:1-8). Your intimacy with God is your greatest gift to others. Find your pleasure in pleasing him. To God be all glory.