[Taro Fields, Hanalei Overlook, Kauai, Hawaii]
This blog features articles about Bible Prophecy as well as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today (Wednesday) while reading my Bible in the book of Psalms the following verse really made me realize the importance of always stressing the glory of God, and giving Him the glory for everything:
"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 29:2
God's very creation praises Him and gives Him glory as seen in Psalm 19:1 which follows:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork."
Also, His creation of mankind was miraculous and glorious and showed His great love and desire for companionship, although He had Jesus and the angels with Him before then.
We should make sure that we bring glory to God.
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
Jesus' life and purpose was to bring glory to God. He lived and died to do the Heavenly Father's will. And that was to provide a way for lost mankind to be saved from the darkness of this world and to come to the saving light of salvation; to know God's love and forgiveness and grace by Jesus' sacrificial death at Calvary, whereby Jesus' shed blood will wash away all of our sins from us if we but believe in Him and have faith that He paid our sin debt in full by taking our place and our sins upon Himself and dying for us; thereby making a way for us to have everlasting life. What love!
[Hill side near Salt Lake City]
When believers endeavor to live as godly a life as they are able, and show the love of God to others, and - most importantly - to love God and to obey Him and to try to follow closely in Jesus' footsteps, then we are bringing glory to God. That we are revealing the glory of God to others through our lifestyles, words, and actions; as well as praising Him and submitting to His will.
Mainly, just showing faith that God and Jesus will take care of you and guide you and protect you - showing trust in Him. Rely on Him and not yourself. Be humble.
In Habakkuk 3:17-19, it shows that Habakkuk had learned faith in God regardless of circumstances - even if there be suffering and loss:
In verse 17 Habakkuk discusses possible dire circumstances, and then in verse 18 and 19 he says: "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds feet."
Many commentators think the above verses are one of the strongest statements of faith in all the Bible.
So our faith can bring glory to God.
Remember Abraham! Romans 4:20 tells us: "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"
Following is a 39 minute audio sermon by Charles Spurgeon titled "A View Of God's Glory" :
[Hawaiian Black Crowned Night Heron]
So how do we acquire a strong faith? How do we draw close to the good Lord? The answer to the question "How do we glorify God?" has already been touched upon in the above paragraphs. The key to everything spiritual - and understanding what God requires of us - is by putting God and Jesus first in our lives.
As has been stated many times on this blog, God desires to fellowship with us because He loves us. We can draw close to the Lord by much prayer and by reading and studying His Holy Word, the Bible. Then we will learn just how much He and Jesus loves us, and we will grow to appreciate their attributes and their greatness. It is amazing how the Lord will take the time to listen to us and answer our prayers; we who are so weak and fragile ; we who sin (hopefully not intentionally!); we who can be stubborn at times and want our own way for the most part. If you spend a lot of quality time with the good Lord, you will grow spiritually and He will renew your mind (Romans 12:1-2 which follows):
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Only those who are truly born again (a spiritual rebirth) have the Holy Spirit within them Who enables them to be godly and to obey God and to have faith in Him and Jesus, our Savior.
Yes, we are still living in an imperfect world which can affect us at times, and we ourselves are still imperfect right now, so Christians will at times weaken and sin. (If a person willfully and deliberately sins, and it is a frequent occurrence, then either he is not truly born again, or he does not fully understand what salvation is all about.)
"For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." - Romans 10:2-3
If we confess our sins and repent, God our heavenly Father will forgive us and and restore us. He will see us as "clean" because of Jesus' sacrificial death - see our sin debt as paid in full.
[Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]
One major way we bring glory to God, is to witness to unbelievers about Jesus; to share the gospel and help lost souls to come to a saving relationship with Jesus. That is every true believer's work for the Lord. Note that we are NOT saved by works, but by faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says: (8) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast."
"For God, Who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." - 2 Corinthians 4:6
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I shew the salvation of God." - Psalm 50:23
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!
