Tag Archives: Glorifying God

Glorifying God

Eastertide

May 23, 2020

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. –John 17:1-5

Glorify or honor means to value something or someone for what it really is. Our work in the name of God glorifies God before others. We do much more at introducing God to others by our actions than our words. We, too, are called to finish the work that God gave us to do. We first have to discern what that work is. Our work calling can change over time as we mature and develop new skills.

Blogs did not exist 25 years ago.  I can remember punching holes in cards used to run programs through mainframe computers 45 years ago. Federal law required the permanent maintenance of all records in some instances. My staff created a footstool for me out of those cards we could not destroy. We transferred the data years before to other devices. We also had nothing available that could even read them, but we still had to keep them.

Knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ is an honor to us. Our returning that honor in all that we do and say is the best way we have of glorifying God. Even last year, I would not have imagined that I would now be glorifying God by wearing a mask or keeping a distance from others. Recently as I become frustrated at taking recommended precautions about COVID 19, I remind myself that taking those precautions is one way I can glorify God working together to protect all of God’s children from the pandemic.

Prayer:  Lord, grant us the will to do your will in loving one another. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Glorified

Eastertide

May 19, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 13:31-35

When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

So what does it mean when this scripture says that the Son of Man has been glorified? The Greek word doksázō* translated glorify ascribes weight by recognizing real substance or value. Glorifying God thus means valuing God for who God really is. Jesus’ glorification thus amplifies the glory of God helping us understand the full value of God in our lives. Do our acts as God’s disciples amplify the glory of God?

Joshua understood this concept when he noted among all the idols available for people in his culture to worship that Yahwah was the one with real substance and value. He said in Joshua 24:15:

Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’

What do we put above God? What are the 21st Century idols we choose over God? We are far too sophisticated to bow down to golden calves or mammoth carved stones. I fear our idols are more sinister. Certainly, wealth and power are more important to some than God. Politics and nationalism seem to push God aside or even worse use God as a steppingstone to their own ends. We, like the people Joshua led, need to carefully consider who we serve and reevaluate how our way of being is influencing others toward God or away from God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we claim to be your disciples and do not have love for one another or any others. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/1392.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Glorifying God

Lent
March 18, 2018

 Scripture Reading: John 12:20-33

‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that 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.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. –John 12:27-33

It is hard to comprehend those last days when Jesus faced what he knew was certain death. I have always believed that even at the very last, if people had recognized what they were doing and turned around, Jesus’ death did not have to happen. Though I think he knew in his heart turning around was not going to happen. People neither like to admit that they are wrong nor face the reality of situations.

Jesus wanted his actions to uplift God before the people so that they could with hindsight say this was of God. Isn’t that the way all of us should live our lives? Do our decisions reflect our relationship with God? Can others readily see that the driving force in our lives is following in the footsteps of Jesus? It is a narrow path to walk and it is easy to slip or take a wrong road. God is always with us and stands ready to help us turn around from our errors, but we cannot turn around until we admit we are going the wrong way.

We do this as individuals and that is a challenge, but we are also called to follow right paths in oneness with all of God’s people which is even harder. How do we find common ground in being the Body of Christ in the world today? How do we work together in harmony rather than waste time and energy fighting with each other? A greater challenge still is learning to work together with all people for a world ruled by love.

Prayer: God who is Love, help us lift our drooping hands and strengthen our weak knees* to move forward in faith working together to bring about your Kingdom. Amen.

*Derived from Hebrews 12:12

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.