Be More Concerned for God’s Glory
In the beginning, God
created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1. If we cannot believe and understand the first verse of the Bible, God’s Glory is not our concerned. We are only concerned about our needs and our wants.
Where did we come from?
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He
created
him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27.
We
do not belong to ourselves, we belong, body and soul, to our
Creator! Each
choice in life matters. Every thought, every word we say can either glorify God or cause Him pain.
It
is when we suffer difficulties in life, we ask ‘why’ questions? Why did this happen? How can I
get
out of this situation? This is when we need a different perspective. “How can I glorify God in this situation?”
(Robert J.
Morgan, author of Red Sea Rules).
Asking this question brings a new focus of not thinking of self,
but trying
to understand God’s point of view brings light and understanding
to the
situation. This also glorifies God by recognizing His prominent position in our lives as our Creator.
Understanding the way God works and thinks in Exodus 14:3-4 brings understanding. “For Pharaoh will
say of the
people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the
wilderness has shut them
in.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue
them, and I will get
glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall
know that I am the
Lord.” And they did so.
When Jesus was
summoned by Mary and Martha in the sickness of their brother
Lazarus and learned he died. Jesus waited a little longer. said, “This
illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God so
that the Son
of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:4.
We can understand our difficulties in life as occasions to
glorify our Lord
God. It is then we can see God working on our behalf even as the
Israelites saw the dry sea path fenced in with walls of water. They were
witness to the
Egyptian charioteers, six hundred strong, drowning as the walls of water were released to return and cover the dry sea walkway.
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters. Who brings forth chariot and horse,
army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick. Isaiah 43:16-17.
When
Jesus prayed before being crucified on the cross, He prayed: “Now
is my soul
troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
But for this purpose, I have come to this hour. Father,
glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have
glorified
it, and I will glorify it again.” John 12:27-28.
Where can we learn about God’s will for our lives and we know
about His
Ways? Not from books about God, but from His Word. The verse of the scripture that speaks strongly is this Psalm 46:10, are these words. “Be
still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the
nations, I will
be exalted in the earth!”
How often we desire to give others the benefit of our ‘wisdom’
by the ceaseless
chatter. Silence and listening for God’s voice give us true wisdom. This verse describes the Word of God. For the word
of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and
of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews
4:12.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the
word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15. Rightly handling the Word of Truth takes
understanding,
prayer, and listening to God’s way.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers
them
out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19.
“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you,
and
you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:15.
May this be written on our hearts as our gift to the God of
Glory… Not to
us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your Name give glory, for the
sake of
Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness! Psalm 115:1
As
trials and troubles fall on you, ask that provides the
light and glory
of God! “How can we glorify God in the situation I am
facing?”
Comments? eacombs@att.net