GLORIFYING GOD


“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). To “glorify” means to adore, to honor, to esteem or to magnify. God is certainly worthy “to receive glory and honor and power” (Rev. 4:14). In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul wrote that we are to “do all to the glory of God.” How should we glorify God?

In Our Works. To please and to glorify God demands we be involved in good works, that is, works authorized by God (Col. 3:17; Eph. 2:10; Matt. 5:16; Heb. 10:24). We must be “zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14) and “be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8).

In Our Worship. “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest” (Rev. 15:4). If we are to glorify God in worship, then our worship must be as He has authorized in His word. The guidelines for acceptable worship are stated in John 4:24, where Jesus said, “God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” For worship to glorify God it must be directed to God —“must worship him” with the right disposition of heart —“in spirit,” being guided by divine truth —“in truth.” Therefore, when we change any one of these three essential elements in worship, our worship will be in vain. Some in the church today are pushing for change in how we worship. We must not allow mechanical instruments of music, solos, choruses and choirs, handclapping, women preaching or leading in other areas in our worship services. Such matters are not authorized by Jehovah God. When we follow our “own way” rather than “God’s way” in worship, God cannot be glorified.

In Our Way of Life. When we bring our lives in harmony with God’s word, God is glorified (1 Cor. 6:19,20; Rom. 12:1,2). How can we do this? We must “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7), “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4), “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16), “walk not after the flesh” (Rom. 8:1) and “walk in love” (Eph. 5:2). We must put away the “works of the flesh” and produce the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:19-23). Even when we suffer for doing right, God must be glorified (1 Peter 4:16).

By Our Words. It is true that when we teach and preach, we must only teach and preach “the truth” (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Peter 4:11; 2 John 9-11). Therefore, if we teach false doctrine, no matter how sincere we may be, God is not glorified. Do we gossip, take God’s name in vain, or curse? God is not glorified by such. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). What we say does make a difference because we will be judged by our words (Matt. 12:36,37).
Let us make sure that we are careful in what we do and say so that we can glorify God in our works, worship, way of life, and by our words.

by Jerry Joseph

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