Q6: How can we glorify God?
A: We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law. (Crossway 2017)
Scripture Reference
Deuteronomy 11:1 “You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statues, his rules, and his commandments always.” (ESV)
The Vertical Truth in Faith – What does this truth mean in my relationship with God?
There’s a question that nearly every human being on the planet will get around to asking himself or herself at some point. And that question is, “Why, am I here? What is my purpose?”The question is actually a good one, and extremely important. If you miss your ultimate purpose in life, you’ll wander through life with questions, doubts, anxieties, aimlessness and stress. However, God didn’t leave you in the dark! He told you what your purpose is! You were created by God to glorify him. That’s your ultimate purpose. When you decide to embrace that purpose, you’ll live your life with greater joy, hope, peace and a sense of meaning.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
- Psalm 16:11“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
- Isaiah 43:7“everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
The Horizontal Truth in Love – What does this truth mean in my relationship with humanity?
So how do we glorify God? To begin with, we glorify God by growing in our knowledge of him as he revealed himself in Scripture, and immerse ourselves in what we learn about his character. We all enjoy seeing something beautiful and breathtaking. Maybe it’s an awe-inspiring work of art created by a master artist. Maybe it’s a stunning sunset bursting with color reflecting off the gulf coast at dusk. But there is no more glorious, amazing and awesome being in all the universe than our Creator God. The more you know of him, the more you enjoy him, worship him, seek him and glorify him, the more you get to know his everlasting love, his great faithfulness and his matchless wisdom – the more you will love him, seek him, trust him, and obey him. As you seek him through Scripture, he will prepare us to make wise choices according to his Word. So, no matter what else you do in your life, seek to bring glory to God through your actions, attitudes, words and thoughts. As you do this you will fulfill your ultimate purpose in life.
- John 15:8:“By this my Father is glorified,that you bear much fruitand so prove to be my disciples.”
- 1 Peter 4:10:“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”
Practical Truth in Action – How can I put this truth into action?
Think about it like this, have you ever been to a game in a large stadium or arena? Have you ever noticed the shouting, cheering, and singing songs or chants at the sporting event? These are all ways fans will glorify a team. We don’t ordinarily use that word, however, being a huge fan and letting others know which team you support is “glorifying” a team. So often in the twenty-first century we are used to seeing the created (sports stars, celebrities and even politicians) glorified, rather than the Creator. Keep in mind, God doesn’t need anything! Glorifying God is part of being in a loving relationship with him, and that is what God longs for with those whom he has created. Be more than a fan.
God seeks that we love him above all and that we walk with him through all. It was the Lord Jesus that said, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Mark 12:30-31. As we learn to put this commandment from our Lord into practice, what does that look like? We are to glorify God by loving him, praising him, telling others about him and serving him. So, turn your heart and life towards being fully obedient towards God in all your actions, attitudes, words and thoughts.
- Psalm 34:8:“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
- Psalm 63:3:“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”
- Psalm 95:6“Oh, come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!”
- Psalm 134:2“Lift up your handsto the holy place and bless the LORD!”
Simply put, glorifying God is something that involves our mind, our heart and our willingness to serve him. If we truly want to honor our Savior, we will do as he said, and through that we will glorify God. We can only know God personally through a faith relationship with his son, Jesus Christ.