Christian Living
I believe one of the words greatly misunderstood is the word ‘glory’ and its family.
Is there a difference between the ‘standard of God’ and the ‘glory of God’ or are they the same?
A standard is a basis for comparison; a reference point against which anything can be measured or evaluated.
Glorifying God: It is something that happens. It is not something we do, but the result of something we do. It cannot be written on our agenda and will not fit on our program.
Often we will will hear these lines: 'Let us glorify God in our service' or 'let us glorify God in our song' or 'let us glorify God in our work', but what are we saying?
When I think of glorifying God, I see a similarity in growing corn. We cultivate the soil, we sow the seed, and we may even irrigate the soil and seed, but we do not grow the corn. It happens as a result of the things we do.
We trust, (or the biblical equivalent of looking) we abide, we commune, we listen to the Spirit, we obey the call, but we do not glorify. It happens as a result of these things which we do.
What does glorify mean? The definitions offered are many!
American Heritage Dictionary:
1. To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt.
2. To cause to be or seem more glorious or excellent than is actually the case: Your descriptions have glorified an average house into a mansion.
3. To give glory to, especially through worship.
Webster’s;
1. To make glorious by bestowing glory upon; to confer honor and distinction upon; to elevate to power or happiness, or to celestial glory.
2. To make glorious in thought or with the heart, by ascribing glory to; to acknowledge the excellence of; to render homage to; to magnify in worship; to adore.
Consider this definition;
Glory is a ‘manifestation of splendor’ or a ‘display of majesty’. You may use it as a noun, a verb or an adjective; whatever fits the sentence, but the essence remains the same.
Therefore, I believe that the manifestation of God’s splendor or the display of His majesty happens when we trust; we abide; we commune; we listen to the Spirit; we obey the call, etc.
I pondered the verse in John 15:8 for a long time: “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit ... I noticed however that the only way to bear fruit was to abide in Him. In previous versus I learned that we are not able to ‘produce’ fruit nor are we called to produce fruit, but we are to ‘bear’ fruit. Remember we are the branches, not the vine; we are the branches and the fruit producing sap that flows through the branches is no less than the Holy Spirit working in us. When we abide in Him and our branch is connected to the vine, it is inevitable that fruit will be found on our branches and the Father will be glorified. But there is more...
Who benefits from the fruit on our branches? There will be those who walk by or perhaps cross our path and will pluck, be blessed by the fruit that is on our branches. Perhaps one will be encouraged by the testimony of our lips or one will be blessed by a simple little gift or perhaps one will be the recipient of unconditional love. When we walk with our Lord day by day and when we are in tune with what He is doing, we will know the ones that cross our path and bless them by the fruit which is borne on our branches.
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we do not grow the corn. It happens as a result of the things we do...a new thought. You are right. And after reading the full lesson, I see what you are saying. We don't go around planning to glorify God. It is not on our agenda. It is spontaneous, brought on by the inner flow of the Spirit. It flows out of us. It is not forced. We don't plan it...God bless you. Keep on writing for His glory...Helen
I have to admit that it has been somewhat difficult to convey my thoughts just right in this article, but I hope you will be blessed and that it will take you to the Father's heart. Casey
Just my comments....I understand what you were saying. Jesus said "Without me you can do nothing..." As we abide in Him (the word) and He abides in us, daily, in all we do and say, we always glorify our Father when we obey his commands (His words)....He is also glorified when we come apart from our activity to spend some one-on-one time with HIM. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. GOD BLESS YOU
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