Tag Archives: the glory of God

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS…GOD’S GLORY – 10

Bible Study,

Before we move away from these random thoughts, the instruction of Scripture to seek God’s glory fascinates me. What is God’s glory and why is seeking His glory so important to us?

First, what is God’s glory? The Bible, from cover to cover, is full of this expression. 

“The biblical definition of the glory of God is the manifestation of His magnificent and weighty nature, including His splendor, majesty, and divine perfections. It is the visible expression of His power, holiness, and goodness, both in His divine presence and in His creation. Glorifying God means acknowledging His greatness and honoring Him through our actions and lives.” (source: Google…article “What does the glory of God mean in the Bible?”). 

God’s glory has significant implications for His children. Paul’s outburst of praise in Ephesians 1 and Romans 11 direct us to the first important considerations…

In Ephesians 1, Paul reveals the purpose of God’s mercy and grace through Jesus…

“Chosen” and “predestined to adoption as sons”…”to the praise of His glorious grace”. 

“Redemption through his blood”, “chosen to fulfil His plans”…”to the praise of His glory”. 

“Marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit”…”to the praise of His glory”. 

Everything God has done for humanity through Jesus is to reveal His glory beyond what we can see in nature, culminating in the glory of His redemptive plan and work through Jesus. We can only know the marvel of His grace through what Jesus did for us on the cross because of our sin. 

In Romans 9-11, Paul explains God’s purpose for His own people,  Israel, their falling away, to open the door of salvation for the Gentiles. He reveals, through His dealings with Israel, His mercy for Jew and Gentile alike through Jesus. 

“For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s glory is also revealed in His plan to save and unite Jew and Gentile into one family through the cross. 

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

With this amazing marvel of God’s grace, Paul concludes with an outburst of praise…

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭33‬-‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In heaven, there is a perpetual scene of worship, revealed to Isaiah in the Old Covenant… 

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.””

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and to John on the Island of Patmos, the Holy Spirit revealed…

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Scripture tells us that everything God says and does in creation

is to reveal His glory through His creation. 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Even if sinful humans refuse to acknowledge God, creation’s voice is never silent…

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This truth has implications for us… 

Since, according to the Westminster Shorter Catechism… ”Man’s chief end is to glorify God…”, how important it is to understand what “the glory of God” means so that we can adjust our lives to fulfil His purpose. 

All of natural creation glorifies God by doing what He made it to do. So, too, humans glory God when we do what He made us to do…

“…everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.””

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…with one important difference. He has given humans the freedom to choose. Nature glorifies God by design. Humans can choose to glorify God or not to glorify God by the way we live.  

One of the most important ways in which we glorify God is through worship. Is there a connection between worship and the glory of God? 

Google’s answer:

“Yes, worship and the glory of God are intrinsically connected; worship is the response to God’s glory, and the purpose of worship is to give God glory. Worship is seen as the exaltation of God’s majesty, power, and holiness, and it is considered a response of reverence and adoration that acknowledges God’s worth.”

Worship is not only the purposeful act of giving God glory in verbal expression. Worship is also the way we conduct our lives that reflects His glory in what we say and do. The most basic of words and behaviour must intentionally reflect Him. 

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Second, why is God’s glory so important to us?

Again, says Google, in answer to the question …”Why is God’s glory important to humans?”

“God’s glory is important to humans because it provides the ultimate source of truth, joy, and purpose, while revealing his wonder and goodness. By experiencing and reflecting God’s glory, humans can find contentment and security, as it fulfills the inherent desire for something greater than themselves and aligns them with God’s ultimate goal.”

I believe that God’s glory is even more important to us than finding “contentment and security” or “fulfilling the inherent desire for something greater than themselves”. 

People are only “fully human” when we fulfil the purpose for which God created us.  “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. “(Westminster Shorter Catechism). Anything less than that reveals that people are less than human. 

“Fully human” means man as he was created to be before he disobeyed God. He was made in God’s image to be like God, to have fellowship with God, and to live in harmony with God’s will. Only in this state can man enjoy God forever. 

Therefore, the more we align our lives with the nature of God and do the will of God, the more we will glorify God. The more we glorify God, the more we will experience the environment of heaven…the love, joy, and peace that produce the wellbeing of being “fully alive”, as Irenaeus stated…”The glory of God is man fully alive “

“St. Irenaeus famously said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” To be fully alive is not merely to exist but to thrive in the freedom Christ purchased for us through His sacrifice. It means stepping out of the shadows of sin, fear, and inadequacy into a life marked by joy, purpose, and communion with God.” (source: Google)

So, God’s glory is the reason for creation and the purpose of all creation. Only when we choose to live in harmony with God’s purpose will we, by glorifying God, experience the fullness of being human.

Perhaps, Habakkuk’s declaration should be the zenith of all our thoughts and prayers and our passion…

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

PSALM 19

Devotion, ,

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19

Psalm 19

Look up!  The skies above you tell a story!

The craftsmanship and skill of God declare;

Without a word, they spread abroad His glory,

His majesty and power laying bare.

The sun moves through the heavens, like a bridegroom

Hurrying to his wedding in the skies;

From east to west in radiant splendour shining,

Then hides himself from sunset to sunrise.

God’s laws are perfect, daily they protect us,

Make wise and give us joy and peace and light:

They never change, their goal is to perfect us,

To make us pure and holy in His sight.

Like gold, we treasure them, for they are sweeter

Than honey dripping from the honey comb:

They warn us, giving wisdom to the eater,

Success to all who listen well to them.

How can I know what hidden sins are lurking,

What secret faults are hidden in my heart?

O let your Holy Spirit keep on working;

From stubborn sins and wrongs keep me apart.

For only then can I be clean and guiltless

Of visible and outward crime and wrong:

O Lord, please let me think and speak of kindness

To give you joy and pleasure all day long.

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS AND FOOTPRINTS

Christian Life, ,

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS AND FOOTPRINTS

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1

How do we know that God exists? This is a big question that not even philosophers and scientists can explain. It’s all theory… until one steps through the door of faith into a wonderland of revelation. “…Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists…and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

The psalmist, David, recognised God’s fingerprints in the sky. Without a telescope, he gazed at the stars and marvelled at God’s handiwork. They tell the wordless story of a mighty, wise and beautiful Creator. He saw the skill of his Creator in the miracle of his own body and exclaimed, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14, NIV).

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Roman church, chided unbelievers for not recognising God’s eternal power and divine nature from the things He has made. (Romans 1:20). In Ephesians 2:10, he called believers “God’s poems”, masterpieces created to reflect His beauty by their “good works”.

When we open the eyes of our hearts, we see the signs of God’s presence everywhere, in the beauty of nature, in the marvellous bodies we live in and, most of all, in the miracle of people transformed by the power of His love.

If God’s fingerprints are all over creation, then His footprints are all over history. History is His story, God with us, God writing His big story, blending our small stories into one big story of His love and power at work, redeeming and restoring everything that was broken when we messed up His plan.

The beauty of God’s story is the He invites us to be a part of it. We are the pens He uses to write the story of His great love for a lost and broken world. We are the hands and feet that show, and voices that tell the story of a Father who passionately longs for His lost sons and daughters to come home.

Until we read history through God’s eyes, it seems like a never-ending story of man’s cruelty to man. But, amid the chaos man has created, God sent His Son from His side to show and tell us that He cares about us, that He can fix everything that is broken and that He is moving history towards a destined end. From God’s perspective, history is not a random series of events but a carefully executed plan to expose the usurper who has created the chaos and to install His king in his place.

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain…The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them…saying, ’I have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.’” Psalm 2:1,4,6, NIV).

We can take heart and rejoice that God really exists and that He has written the story’s final chapter.