To Glorify God

“From “Breaking Free” by Beth Moore on Youversion

The more I study God’s glory, the more I’m convinced it is almost indefinable. God’s glory far exceeds anything we can comprehend in human terms. It’s the way He makes Himself known or shows Himself mighty. God’s glory is how He shows who He is.

The Greek word for glory in these New Testament references (doxa) is “the true apprehension of God or things. The glory of God must mean His unchanging essence. Giving glory to God is ascribing to him His full recognition …The glory of God is what He is essentially.” Doxa comes from another wonderful word, dokeo, meaning “to … think or suppose.” God’s glory is the way He makes Himself recognizable.

‬“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’”

‭Isaiah 43:5-7 NLT

God desires to be recognizable in us in all we do! A life that glorifies God is a life that reveals God. If you’re like me, you’re probably overwhelmed by the enormous responsibility of such a calling. We’re imperfect creatures! How do we help others recognize something about God just from watching our lives and knowing us?

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:23 NIV

Paul announced the mystery that Christ Himself dwells in every believer. Romans 8:9 tells us that “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” The moment we received Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit of Christ took up residence in our inner being.

Do you see the key? We have no hope whatsoever of God being recognizable in us if the Spirit of Christ does not dwell in us. If we are not occupied by the Holy Spirit, we have nothing of God in us for Him to show.

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

‭Colossians 1:24-27 NIV‬

We glorify God to the degree that we externalize the internal presence of the living Christ. A life that glorifies God is not something we suddenly attain. People living out the reality of liberation in Christ (Gal. 5:1; 2 Cor. 3:17) progress in an “ever-increasing glory.” As they grow in spiritual maturity, the Spirit of Christ becomes increasingly recognizable in them. So when Christ is not recognizable in a redeemed life, we want to identify and allow God to treat that area of captivity. God makes us aware of hindrances so He can set us free!

Learning to dialogue with God in very personal ways is a crucial part of the freedom process. Share with Him your sincere response to today’s devotional.