When we begin to appreciate the nature of God as the infinitely perfect Creator who deserves all praise, then our hearts will not rest until we give him glory.—Wayne Grudem
Here’s something fun to think about . . .
What does God want? What does He desire?
Scripture answers this question in a variety of ways. But there is one thing that God desires that comes up a lot in the Bible.
God wants all the world to know of His glory.
Here, let me show you . . .
God desires that His glory would be revealed among the nations . . .
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (Psalm 57:5)
Sure . . . But isn’t defining God’s glory kind of tricky? Well, yes and no. The Hebrew word that translates word “glory” is kabod. It means “weightiness, abundance, and riches.” Think of the weightiness of all that God is . . . Think of the combination of all His attributes, His majesty, His power, His nature . . .
Now think of what it would be like to reveal all of this, to communicate God in the fullness of His character.
This is God’s glory! The revelation of all that He is.
And God desires that this, His glory, be made known in all the earth.
So, what do you think about that? Is His glory being made known on the earth?
Hold that thought . . .
The cool thing is that it’s happening in heaven . . .
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. (Psalm 29:1)
The angels and the saints who have gone before us are making God’s glory known.
Something else cool? God’s glory is being revealed in nature . . .
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)
Created things attest to God’s glory . . .
But what about us? How can we make this happen? How can our lives be given over to revealing God’s glory to the world?
We can do it through our words . . .
Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name. (Psalm 66:1)
My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. (Psalm 71:8)
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. (1 Chronicles 16:24)
And, we can do it through our actions . . .
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
So, let’s review . . .
God wants His glory revealed.
It’s being revealed in heaven. Right now. As you read this.
Creation is revealing it at all times. Even today.
And we can play our part by revealing His glory through our words and actions.
Simple enough?
OK, then ask yourself these questions . . .
How will you reveal God’s glory today or this week? In other words, what will you do to communicate in words or actions who God is? Or how God is?
Who in your life needs to know God more? What is keeping you from revealing Him to them?
You have been given this day. It is a gift. Make it count for God.
He is worthy of it.
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. (1 Chronicles 29:11)
Filed under: Bible Study/Teaching, Spiritual Development, ministry | Tagged: bible, bible scripture, bible study, christ glory, glory, glory god, glory of, glory of god, glory power, god glory, god's glory, jesus glory, lord glory, power and the glory, Scripture | Leave a Comment »
























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What Veterans Day Is Really About
Today is Veterans Day.
There will be many people today who will realize this fact sometime mid-morning. They will acknowledge it without much of a second thought. And then will move on with their day.
Maybe these individuals do not believe we should be at war with Afghanistan or Iraq. Maybe they have never had a family member serve in our country’s Armed Forces. Maybe some of them are simply detached from current events. Maybe others have forgotten the history lessons they learned in grade school.
For whatever reason, the significance of today will not register with a great many people in our country.
And this is a shame.
Because Veterans Day is a day for all Americans. It is quintessentially American.
Veterans Day should be a day set aside for remembrance and awareness.
Remembrance is about the past. We should remember the young men and women of yesterday . . . those who gave greatly in service of something so much bigger than themselves, whether that service was meted out on Normandy or Omaha Beaches, on islands named Tarawa or Iwo Jima, at the Chosin Resevoir or the Que-Son Valley, or whether the service occurred in munitions factories in Birmingham, St. Louis, and Cleveland.
Let us remember . . .
These men and women are our grandfathers and grandmothers. Our fathers and mothers. Time makes it hard for us to personalize their experiences. Their service seems mythical. We are detached from its reality. But remember, most of them were mere children when they devoted their lives to serving our country. 18-year-old boys rolling into Paris on tanks, liberators. 22-year-old nurses running triage in steamy medical tents in the jungles of Vietnam.
Remember their service today. Remember with them. If you have the chance, call your grandparents or your parents and ask them to tell you stories of their service. It’s the least you can do for the sacrifice they willingly made.
But today is also about awareness. The awareness of the thousands of men and women serving in warzones on the other side of the world. These men are husbands, sons, brothers, fathers. These women are daughters, wives, sisters, mothers. And they are serving on their own accord. They volunteered for this . . .
Let us be aware today . . .
There is room for discussion about just war. There is room for criticism of policy. There is room for philosophical discussion about diplomacy.
But today, separate your feelings about politics from your admiration of those in our armed services. These people may be the tip of the spear (a spear wielded by diplomats safely tucked away in sterile conference rooms). But they all have names. They are people. And every one of them has willingly committed to sacrificially give themselves to the service of the common good. Few among us can say he or she has made such a sacrifice.
Remember today those who fought and those who died in service of our country.
Be aware today those who at this moment are serving at the behest of this country.
And if you can find it in your heart to do so, learn from their willing sacrifice.
Filed under: Reflections, social commentary | Tagged: armed forces, day veterans, veteran day, veterans day, vetrans day | 2 Comments »