TADB: 99 Responding to God’s Glory

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

In previous blogs, I have suggested that God’s glory consists of his attributes and nature as he has revealed them.   The first time Jesus publicly revealed his glory was when he turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:11).  He continued to reveal his glory over the next 3+ years while on earth. 

God declares his nature not only in the Scriptural narrative and the life of Jesus but also as he demonstrates his nature through our life journey.  The practical question is, “What should be our response to his glory?” 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.  But how do we do that in practice?  We commonly think of glorifying God as worshiping by thanksgiving and praise.  Thanksgiving and praise are undoubtedly part of the response, but the answer is much more comprehensive.

Going back to an earlier blog, I suggested that the three pursuits of a disciple are knowing, reflecting, and sharing Christ.  These pursuits correlate with God’s relational, transformational, and missional purposes for his people.  With that as a backdrop, I would suggest we glorify God as we pursue those three purposes, giving us a multi-dimensional platform on which to glorify God in our daily lives. 

Interestingly, people are the only part of God’s creation that has the option to glorify him.  Nature does it automatically (Psalm 19:1-4; Isaiah 42:12; Psalm 97:6; Romans 1:20); we, however, do it by choice.

1.  We glorify God as worshippers, celebrating his attributes.

Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion, LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.  Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all,  and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name (1Ch 29:11-13).

Glorifying God in thanksgiving and praise, whether private or public, is a natural response to experiencing the glory of God.  David’s prayer, stimulated by the generous offering of the people for the building of the proposed temple, is filled with celebration and admiration of the attributes of God.  

The command to remember the works of God is a constant theme in the Old Testament.  Remembering how God showed up in the past fuels our prayers of praise to God in the present.

Glorifying God in worship can take on different forms in various cultures.  It may be verbal or silent, public or private.  The popular song “I can only Imagine” expresses the wonder and often confusion about how best to express our celebration of his glory.

2.  We glorify God as image-bearers, reflecting his character.

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine, oh, I can only imagine.

Jesus was the manifestation of God’s glory, and we, on the other hand, are to be its reflection.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature (Hebrews 1:3).

But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).

As a mirror glorifies sunlight by reflecting it, we glorify Christ by living transformed lives that reflect his image (Galatians 5:23-24).  An illustration of this is found in the relationship between the sun and the moon. The moon is not an optimal mirror, but it does reflect sunlight to the earth.  The moon, having no light of its own, reflects sunlight when adequately aligned with the sun.  The ability to reflect sunlight depends on how well the moon sees the sun.  Likewise, our ability to reflect God’s glory depends on our ability to see him clearly for who he is and act as his image bearers reflecting his nature to others.

In his prayer in John 17, Jesus explains how he glorified the Father.  “I have revealed (manifested, KJV) Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world….  and I have made Your name (nature) known to them, and will make it known” (John 17:6 and 26).

Jesus made it very clear that we are to reflect his character.  “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

3.  We glorify God as servants, doing his will.

I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do (John 17:4). 

Jesus both demonstrated and taught servanthood as he did the will of his Father.  Our works as servants of the King continue what Jesus started.  “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). 

Our work on his behalf should draw people’s attention to him, not us.

 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-15; see also Mark 10:45).

Since we represent the King, service on his behalf should be done with excellence.  Therefore, it is important not only what we do, but how well we do it.  Both aspects reflect on the One we serve. 

We glorify God when his purposes become our pursuits, resulting in his pleasure, our blessing, and the knowledge of his glory filling the earth.

For reflection

1.  Which of the three forms of glorifying God do you find the easiest?  Most difficult?

2.   How could you make glorifying God more intentional?