When you read the Bible, it would not be long before you come across passages that tell us to glorify God, give God the glory, do things for God’s glory, do things that God may be glorified and the like.
The word “glory” is certainly a great biblical concept. However, the word “glory” is used in a variety of ways in the Bible. We shall look at some of the ways it is used.
1. Used of God, it means His holiness, perfection and magnificence
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).
“ … and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Rom.1:23)
2. Used of God, it means praise
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”(Luke 2:14).
“Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:18).
3. Used of people, it means honor, power, wealth or splendor
“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (ESV John 5:44).
“… and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”(Matt. 6:29).
Now that we have a better understanding of the usage of the word “glory” in the Bible, we turn our attention to specifically glorifying God in our lives.
In Isaiah 43:7, we read, “Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.” (NLT). In a spiritual application, all those called by the gospel form the body of Christ – the church. The church is to reflect God’s glory (Eph. 3:21). Since Christians know and keep on knowing God (1 John 4:6), they are to glorify Him as God (Rom. 1:21).
In what aspects are we to glorify God? Or rather what will bring honor to God? The apostle Paul writes, “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Notice the word “all.” It means everything.
As Christians, we have a main goal in our lives. That is to glorify God in all things. Of
course, we cannot add anything to God’s glory, but we can honor Him, praise Him and exalt Him in our lives. We glorify God by our worship, by our actions and by our words. Here are some examples.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Our good works bring about the occasion for people to praise God. Like Jesus, when he performed miracles, Matthew wrote, “Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.” (Matt. 9:8). The people who saw the miracles glorified God.
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor. 6:20). We can use our bodies in God’s service and bring honor to Him if we “live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12). We glorify God if we “present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Rom. 12:1). In this way, we show God who He is. Peter says, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:15).
“Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.” (Rom. 15:5-6). Christians need to be of the same mind and speak the same scriptural truth so that God may be glorified. If all preach the same gospel, worship and live according to the New Testament, then all can join in their hearts and mouths in praising God. The writer of Hebrew says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15).
And so with our mouth, we glorify God. But it is through the authority of Jesus that we do this. Peter writes, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God ... that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 4:11).
Last but not least, we also need to be aware of the consequence of not giving glory to God. We read in Acts 12:20-25 that the people of Tyre and Sidon sought and then received an audience with the king Herod Agrippa. After delivering a speech to them, the people flattered the king by shouting, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” He obviously accepted their flattery for the writer of Acts says, “At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.” The reason for his fatal sickness was that he did not give praise to God. How could he as a mere mortal man receive homage as a god!
The psalmist knew that glory is only to be given to God for he said, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth” (Psa. 115:1). Peter was right to say “Stand up; I myself am also a man” when Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him (Acts 10:25-26).
Let us continue to glorify our heavenly Father in our lives by our worship, by our actions and by our words. God bless.