To Glorify God

I never ceased to be amazed at how my God works. At the very points of my need He reveals things to me I never could have come to on my own. He is the only explanation there is. I am deep in week two of a new Bible study with my peeps and today I learned something that just rocked me to my core. Isn't it also great that our God is so personal? The lesson I studied is just what my thirsty soul needed today. It might be something else for another believer, but one thing is certain - He will deliver what you need when you need it- whether you realize you need it or not!

I get so fired up when things connect for me between the Old and New Testament. If you will permit me the time and space I would like to share some of what I learned today. This week we are studying about some of the primary benefits we are free to enjoy as children of God. Today's benefit was that we are to glorify God. As I looked at passages in the OT that mentioned God's glory, it was shown that God's glory was present when He was making Himself known or showing His might. God's glory is how He shows us who He is.

Then it was time to look at some NT scripture references:
John 1:14
¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,^[a] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The light switch started to come on - Oh, JESUS is God's Glory. How He reveals Himself to us.

John 2:11
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.


How He makes Himself recognizable to us so we will put our faith in Him. Our faith in Christ - His glory.
What a miracle! But wait...... the miracle doesn't stop there - it was almost more than I could stand as I kept reading.
 
Isaiah 43:7 tells us we were created for God's Glory. But Romans 3:23 also tells us we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We fall short. In our pathetic sin-filled egocentric selves - we fall short.
But then the miracle:
Colossians 1:24-27
²⁴Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. ²⁷To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (emphasis mine).
 
The hope of glory is Christ in us. Our God loved us so much knowing we fall short that He sent His own glory, the glory of the One and Only, to dwell in us. To make Himself recognizable in us! Can you stand it????
 
We are told to do all things to the Glory of God. What does that mean for you, for me, for us? It means that just as Christ revealed His glory at Cana and the disciples put their faith in Him, we are to understand what it means to be created for God's glory. We were created so that His glory could be recognizable to others, or as the Bible study author states, "We were created for the purpose of giving God's invisible character a glimpse of visibility." WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!What a destiny for us. What a reason to take my focus OFF myself and understand I have Christ in me and am being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory. Doesn't mean that this is something I will suddenly attain. I have been praying for spiritual maturity. I don't want to be a baby in my relationship with my Savior. God revealed to me that part of this desire will only be fulfilled when He is recognizable to others in my life. My study also reminded me that this a process and a progression. I fail miserably on a regular basis, yet I am reminded that in Christ there is no condemnation, only conviction. Oh I love Him so. What a savior.
So now when I make the statement that I want a life that glorifies God - I have a different understanding of what that means.
He must love us. Won't we show we love Him too?