God is so good in dealing with is and showing us a better and truer way! I want to share a little about something the Lord Jesus is teaching me about presently:
Doing all things to the Glory of God!
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
– 1 Corinthians 10:31
Christians are meant to bring honor and glory to God as joint heirs of the promises of Israel and sons of God through the Son and Father, Jesus Christ. Do we take this task as seriously as we should? I know I don’t, but I want to do a better job of this.
I’ve written and talked recently about how Jesus wants to work the righteous fruits of salvation in us, because God is glorified in the changing of our natures from corruptible to incorruptible – from sin to righteousness. Within this however, there is so much for us to think about.
For me, I’m considering differing approaches in the way I present the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven. In asking the Lord about this, I had one of those “doh” forehead-slapping moments. All the while I’ve been telling people that we need our hearts restored to God through faith in the fullness of the gospel, but I’ve still continued to approach some things from an intellectual level—and I have not been giving God enough glory through my approach in general.
Here are some thoughts I have right now, and I think we can all benefit to one degree or another:
Teaching Christian Doctrine to the Glory of God
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. – Colossians 3:17
As someone who wants to understand a fuller picture of the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, and all that pertains to salvation, I’ve tried to understand and write about various doctrinal issues – lessons which began because of my own bible teacher – something I like to mention from time to time just to remind people that I began by learning from someone else, and to encourage you to check out his most valuable lessons for yourself.
That being said, what should be our main reason for teaching or learning about Christian doctrine? Is it for our own selfish desires to grow intellectually, or is it because in learning more about God, we have a better understanding of how to love as Jesus loves – and in so doing, we bring God glory through being better living examples of Jesus Christ?
For example, when we have a better understanding about God’s sovereignty, we have better patience with others and a general ability to love our enemies. We grow in faith, knowing that God will sort people out who do us wrong; we just need to love them and do our best to preach the gospel to them and rebuke fellow Christians in the spirit of meekness – not for our own sense of personal justice, but because we love our brother and do not want him to continue in sin. We do this also because we love God, and Christians who continue in hatefulness and sin are not bringing God glory as they should.
If we are ministers, we should take special care in learning doctrine so that we can teach more effectively, and in doing so, we are teaching people how to love as Jesus loves first and foremost. We are leading people on a path of glory to glory that brings God the ultimate glory and honor through us.
On another note, we should take special care in evaluating our own hearts often to make sure we are not in this for selfish reasons, “serving our own bellies.” All knowledge, all goodness, all wisdom, all faith, ALL that we have came from and belongs to God alone! We are just earthen vessels fit for destruction but made useful for His purposes. Even so, we also remember the depth of His love for us, so though we remain humble, we know that to Jesus we are precious and he will provide us with all things we need in order to obtain freedom from this present world and bring glory to the God of all things!
The Deep Love of God is Shown In His Glory
Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken to you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. — John 15: 8-12
God is so good, that we need to remember that it is a blessing for us to bring Him glory in the first place. Consider all the people since the beginning of time that never knew God. Having any measure of communion with Him is an immeasurable blessing of love and graciousness, and He is doing so much more! He is raising us up to live with Him forever!
God is strong and sovereign, but He is also selfless. Look at Jesus. Even the act of giving God glory is a gift to us, and He paid the ultimate price himself so that we can. Consider the fullness of how this works. God came to this earth in the flesh of Jesus Christ, suffered and died a sinners death, and continues to be mocked by this world. He did this so that we can be forgiven and granted the ability to approach God whenever we desire.
He did this so we can be transformed from sin to righteousness – from death to life and Life Eternal! He did this so that in bringing forth fruit, God is glorified, and when the Christian community glorifies God as we should, the world – Jew, gentile, male, female, believer in false gods, believers in humanity, and believers in nothing at all – will come to know him too! It is the most selfless, loving, patient, and merciful act that will EVER happen!
Are We Doing All Things to the Glory of God?
Consider how much more we can all do to bring God glory in our daily lives; how much more can we be examples of the love of Jesus Christ? Our marriages, our parenting abilities, our friendships, our co-worker relationships – basically everything we do and every task we undergo – presents possibility for glorifying God. As Christians, we must lay hold of the promises of Jesus Christ. We must believe that he can and will change our hearts into conformity with the Kingdom of Heaven and free us from this present wicked world. We must seek Jesus in all things first and foremost, so that all things we do are bringing glory to God — and His glory to the world!
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. – Romans 5:1-2
I recommend reading all of Romans 5!
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