There is a question in The Bible Tells Me So that stopped me in my mental tracks when I first considered it. As a matter of fact, so profound was this question that I had to read it over and over again to come to grips with its meaning. Considering this question has helped to shape my life, decisions I have made, and my walk on the Word. So powerful is this question that I still consider it as I conduct my life. In chapter six of The Bible Tells Me So, we read, “The question we must continue to ask ourselves day by day is: Does our walk glorify God?”
The next sentence states, “This is the one and only test we may apply.” Applying “the test” of glorifying God in our walk brings the believer to thoughtfully consider more questions. What does it mean to glorify God in our walk or to live for the glory of God? Can we live for the glory of God? How do we live for the glory of God? We will see that as we faithfully live God’s Word, our walk will glorify God.
What does it mean to live for the glory of God?
To live for the glory of God brings us to the heart of God’s purpose for creating spirit in man. Man was originally designed as a three-part being—body, soul, and spirit. His body was formed out of the dust of the ground. Soul life was made in man, and man became a living soul. The spirit of God was created in man. God created spirit in man for a specific purpose, as noted in Isaiah 43.
Isaiah 43:7:
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
The crowning touch by the hand of a loving God in designing man was: “I have created him for my glory.” Every human being has a body and a soul. This is what makes a person alive and able to function. The five senses are the only avenues of learning the natural man of body and soul has. It is the spirit from God that enables God to talk to man and man to communicate with God. With this fellowship, we can live for the glory of God.
In order to live for God’s glory, we need to understand what glory is Biblically. Glory can be defined as that appearance of a person or a thing which attracts attention or commands recognition. Some synonyms for glory include splendor, brilliance, honor. Our decisions, our actions, indeed our very lives, are to attract attention and bring splendor, brilliance, and honor to God. What a marvelous and privileged enterprise! We have the spirit of God to bring glory to God.
I Corinthians 15:41:
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
Each celestial body gives off its own splendor, brilliance, or glory. The amount of light that can be seen determines the magnitude of a star’s glory or brilliance. To live for the glory of God means we reflect God’s brilliant nature in us so that others may see it. Our application of the Word determines the magnitude of God’s glory that we reflect. How brightly do we want to shine for God?
Jesus Christ is our greatest example of someone whose walk glorified God. We can understand more fully what it means to live for the glory of God by learning from his example. Jesus Christ brought attention to God as he obeyed the Word of God and manifested God’s power and goodness. We see this in Matthew 9, where a man who was sick of the palsy received healing. This man, lying on a bed, was brought to Jesus, who spoke the Word and healed him by the power of God. Verse 8 records the response of the multitudes who saw this bedridden man get up and walk home under his own power.
Matthew 9:8:
But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Who did the multitudes glorify? They glorified God, Who had given such power unto men. On another occasion, the response from another multitude of eyewitnesses was the same—they glorified God.
Matthew 15:30 and 31:
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
With all of these miraculous healings, it is interesting to note that God, not Jesus Christ, was glorified. What a vivid example Jesus Christ is of someone who did not live for his own glory even though he wrought great deliverance in the lives of so many. Jesus Christ sought God’s will and did it, bringing attention to God and not to himself. With the spirit of God upon him during his ministry, Jesus manifested God’s power and goodness, which reflected God’s glory. Jesus’ walk brought glory, splendor, brilliance, and honor to God. Could we have a clearer example of what it means to live for the glory of God?…
This is an excerpt from the September/October 2007 issue of The Way Magazine.
Copyright© 2007 by The Way International. All rights reserved.
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