GLORIFYING MY CREATOR
It’s Saturday morning and I’m headed out the road with my friend to do some shopping. We get a weather advisory for a severe storm coming our direction. Heeding the warning, we go back to our houses and wait it out. I grab my Bible, journal and a fresh cup of French vanilla coffee. I make myself comfortable on the back porch and watch the sky. The clouds are getting darker and the thunder starts to roll. It’s incredible to watch! I ask the Lord to speak to my heart, to teach me from His word.
My mind immediately went to Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” The skies are God’s creation. They glorify Him and reflect His majesty. You and I are also His creation – and far more amazing than a cloud or lightning bolt! Something I hear from a lot from folks who say they love Jesus is that their ultimate goal is to glorify their Creator, God. I’ve always felt that “glorifying God” is a wide and general statement. So how do I glorify God in my life? How do I reflect His glory daily? I started thinking about what I see in other believers that glorifies God and points me to Him. Here are a few simple ways I’ve seen God’s glory displayed through others: obedience, thankfulness and humility.
In a world where it is hard to differentiate between grace and tolerance, God’s word is true and perfect. Listen to what David says about God’s law: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.” Words like radiance, sweetness, wisdom and joy – he explains God’s law as something wonderful, not staunch or overbearing! We will bring glory to our Creator by obeying His commands.
In an average day, I see far more unhappy people than joyful people in the world. It’s far more likely to hear someone complain or grumble than to hear a genuine “thank you” or “wow, I am so blessed.” Regardless of our circumstances, any hardship or trial, there is always something to be thankful for. (I’m not talking about a hypocritical cheese festival where you say we are happy when we’re not. I’m talking about genuinely being grateful for God and what He has done for us!) And most often, sharing gratitude will encourage someone else as well, resulting in more glory to God! Remember He says thankfulness is a fruit of His spirit living inside of us. Having a heart of gratitude will glorify our Creator!
No one is perfect. David’s life was chock-full of mistakes. The amazing thing is that God often shows His glory the brightest through people’s failures. The Bible says “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. ” Proverbs 16:2 David asked forgiveness for hidden sins and willful sins, as well as asked God to keep him from walking into sin. Then he says “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, o Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” He humbled himself to please the Lord above anyone else. Life is full of hurts, misunderstandings, and mistakes – and life is far too short to dwell in those. We will glorify God by consistently asking Him to search our hearts and motives, and to purify us.
Just like the heavens declare the glory of their Creator through beautiful sunsets, sunrises and even storms, so you and I can declare His glory in many ways. Obedience to Gods word, thankfulness regardless of circumstances, and constant humility are three simple ways I have personally seen Christ glorified through the lives of Christians here at Gospel for Asia. Being a student in School of Discipleship has also given me ample opportunities to put these things into practice in my own life.
Now, I need another cup of coffee. (And hey, I am truly grateful for coffee! 😊)
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