It is strange to think of ‘giving glory’ to God, when all glory is his in the first place. The glory of God is divine light, issuing from the Father rather than from us, so why does the Bible talk about God being ‘glorified’ in the church?
For me, the meaning is clear – God is glorified when all the stuff blocking that divine light is moved out the way and He is seen for who he is. Heb 1: 3,
‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.’
Jesus radiated the glory of God because he exactly represented the Father’s being, and we too are called to glorify God (let him be seen for who he is), but how? The Bible offers some clues:
God is glorified when we show mercy. Romans 15:8-9,
‘For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.’
God’s mercy is fundamental to his nature in a way anger is not. As the psalmist wrote: ‘The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.’ The Lord has chosen to show his greatness through mercy rather than wrath. When we show mercy, we are aligned with the nature of God and reveal him to the world.
God is glorified when we are unified. Romans 15:5-6,
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When we speak with ‘one voice’ – a voice of genuine, hard-won, ego-busting unity, God is seen as the one who binds us together despite our differences, rather than divides us. In a world riven by political and religious strife, we glorify God when we build community, togetherness, and friendship on the foundation of his love.
God is glorified when we give thanks. Psalm 69: 30,
‘I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.’
A person who walks closely with God cannot help but be grateful – for his love, his presence, his friendship, his leading, and a thousand other manifestations of a relationship with the divine. When we reflect on and show an overflowing expression of sincere gratitude, the light of God shines brightly and he is seen for who he is – a wonderful God, deeply involved in his children’s lives.
God is glorified when we bear fruit. John 15:8.
‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’
God doesn’t want us to lead fruitless lives, keeping our blessings to ourselves. He wants us to abound, to multiply, to share and show his love – not as a matter of performance, but because he is always reaching out to us. When we live lives of love that touch and help other people, God is seen for who he is.
God is glorified when we rely on the promises of God. Romans 4:18-21,
‘Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations…he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.’
When we are ‘fully persuaded’ that God can and will do what he promises, and when God fulfils those promises, he is seen for who he is – faithful and true to his word.
God is glorified when we ask and receive. John 14:13,
‘And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’
Asking and receiving glorifies God because he is seen for the wonderful Father he is. Of course, there is much more to this than a simple transaction, but I can’t pause to cover it here – a post for another day.
God is glorified when we are healed. Matthew 15:31,
‘So the multitude marvelled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.’
I recognise that the Church is, by and large, not experiencing miraculous healing in such a way, but it is crucial to understand that God is fundamentally a God of healing. He restores our souls piece by piece, sometimes suddenly, and other times, in gentle, careful ways that can take many years. Ultimately, he will wipe every tear from our eyes. When we are confident in the healing nature and intention of God, he is revealed for who he is. When people see us heal and grow, and yes, when actual miraculous healing breaks through (I’ve seen it a few times and would like to see more), the nature of God is clear for all to see.
God is glorified when we handle difficulties well, learn, and grow. Romans 5:3-5,
‘Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.’
If, in the midst of suffering, we lift our eyes to the Lord, and if we learn and grow in the face of the challenges we face, and as we overcome those challenges and find our way to freedom, God is glorified. He is seen and understood as our rescuer from pain.
God is glorified when we know his love. Eph 3: 14-21,
‘For this reason I kneel before the Father…that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge…Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!’
Above all else, it is the love of Christ that characterises the believer – love towards God and each other. Knowing the love of Christ personally, experiencing him in our private devotions and adoring him in our hearts is not something we can hide. His love shines from our faces, and he is seen as the source and essence of all love.
A prayer for 2024
Lord, be glorified in us this coming year. Be seen for who you are as we yield to you and remove the obstacles that obscure your divine light. Help us be thankful, unified, and merciful as we continue brave journeys of healing. Help us be bold in our prayers, led by the Spirit and seeing you move. Strengthen us as we learn and grow through difficulties, and help us share your love and bear fruit by blessing the lives of others. Most of all, let us know your love more closely, more fully, and more transformatively, and as we prioritise spending time in your presence, soaking in your astonishing love, let our joy be complete. Let it be evident on our faces as your glory shines freely through our lives. Dear Lord, this year, be seen for who you are, in us.
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