This past Monday evening at our Men’s Bible Study, our pastor encouraged us to “Just look for what will bring glory to Christ and move in that direction.†Let that one soak in for a while. If I will look for the things that bring glory to Christ that will be time well spent. For whatever brings glory to Jesus brings glory to God the Father.
The particular instance Brother Dennis was referring to is when things are happening and you don’t know what to do. We are often times tempted to speak and we end up blabbering. I can definitely speak for myself in this case. Nevertheless, instead of saying something incoherent or irrelevant, just be silent and look for what will bring glory to Christ. And then move in that direction.
Okay Brother Dave, but what if I can’t even figure out what will bring glory to Christ in such a time? How can I even get started much less move? It’s simple really; praise Him! Praise God not for what you’re going through, but praise Him for knowing that you are not alone. You belong to Jesus:
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“You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!†(Psalm 22:23)
Why is it so important to glorify God? We glorify God because that is our main purpose in life. God created us not only to have a relationship with Him, but also that we may bring Him glory. Bringing glory to God should be our passion; it should consume our lives.
I have a long journey ahead of me to get to the point where my life is consumed with glorifying God. Sadly, most of my time is spent on my success and satisfaction. Don’t get me wrong; I love the Lord, I love His word, I love to worship Him, and I love to share the good news about Him. However, that love still needs to move in the direction of glorifying Him. You see, even my love of the things I’ve listed are based on what brings me joy. I don’t have the right to do that because I belong to Jesus:
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“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.†(1 Corinthians 6:20)
My actions and attitudes need to be focused on glorifying God. In Jesus’ first sermon, known as the Sermon on the Mount, He first taught us the Beatitudes, the things that will bless our lives. Then He taught us how to be Christians; how to be salt and light:
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“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.†(Matthew 5:16)
How many of us can honestly say that everything we do is centered on being the salt and light of the earth? Am I a secret agent Christian, or do all who know me know my life is dedicated to Jesus Christ? And please remember it’s not just our words or works that portray that, it is the reason we do it. Even if you’ve fooled most people, and trust me you haven’t, God knows our heart.
My life needs to show continual movement in the direction of bringing Jesus glory. There should be evidence of my transformation of being changed into the image of Christ. This is why Jesus came to give His life as a sacrifice. It was to bring glory to His Father in heaven, but also to allow us to be changed into His image:
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“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.†(2 Corinthians 3:18)
Is there a worthier goal for us than to live our lives for the glory of God? There is not, however it is not something we can fake or will upon ourselves. As Paul instructed the Corinthian church in his second letter, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. We must first be born again, saved, to be able to begin moving in Jesus’ direction.
That is salvation.
Once we begin moving towards this righteous goal, the Holy Spirit will transform us into a Christlikeness that will surely let our light to shine and glorify God.
That is sanctification.
Wherever you are in your journey with Christ, start moving in His direction now.
That first step alone will bring glory to Him.
In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4
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Copyright © 2015 David Jeffers
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Apologetics, Bible, Christian Activism, Christianity, Evangelism, Faith, Grace, Holy Spirit, Hope, Joy, praise, Revival, Truth, Wisdom