The Glory of God, and, as our only means of glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life.
C.S. Lewis
Our Hope
John 4:34
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
John 5:30
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
John 6:38
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
John 17:1-4 (NLT)
1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
Our Insight
Yesterday we came to understand that God’s glory is revealed through us, through the choices we make, the things we do in word and deed. You might think of it like this—your life is a magnifying glass. Which means your life makes things look bigger and clearer. Your life shows others what they can’t quite see, but desperately need to see: the glory of God. To be very specific and puts things in priority—they need to see and trust the person and work of Jesus.
Yes, there are many ways that our lives “magnify” the character and attributes of God, but there is none more important than that we live in such a way that other people come to put their trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
You may recall that our first Devotion this week began with Isaiah 6:3, the seraphim (heavenly beings) crying out… “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” But how is the whole earth filled with God’s glory?
Trace this storyline of Redemptive History…
In Genesis 1, God creates humanity, male and female, that they would “fill the earth”—that is, that through them the earth would be filled with people in relationship with God, with each other, all co-reigning and ruling with God to display His glory.
In the Fall (Genesis 3), God promised to redeem fallen humanity and creation through One who would crush the serpents head and die in so doing. Today is Palm Sunday, the Promised One is entering Jerusalem to crush the serpent and die. But death will not hold Him, for once the penalty for sin is paid for, having no sin of His own, He rises from that grave!!
And He says to all who put their trust in Him…
“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:18-19 (NLT)
“Go…make disciples of all nations” is the echo of Genesis 1:28…”Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth…”
The earth is filled with God’s glory as God’s people help other people find wholehearted life in Jesus. To glorify God is to live to share the “good news” of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Of course, there is more to glorifying God (this week’s devotions), but it is never anything less, and, this is where glorifying God begins.
May these days of global pandemic, social distancing, loss of life, overwhelming uncertainty, heroics of our medical workers, financial hardship, loss of jobs, struggling small businesses, and calendar upheaval prove to be a time when many, many come to faith in Christ.
And may God empower us share the good news like never before, for His glory.
Our Prayer
Ask God to give you opportunities to tell others about the hope found in the Gospel, the only hope that does not disappoint. (Romans 5:5). Pray for five people by name that come to your mind who do not know Christ. Ask that God would use the circumstances of these days to open their hearts to put their trust in Christ. And finally, ask God to give you the opportunity to share the good news with them.
Our Gratitude
Before closing this devotion, take a moment and bring to mind one thing—at this moment—that you are thankful for. And thank God for it.
