My Life Should Glorify Jesus
To glorify, or bring glory to, is: to point toward, to shine a light upon, to make much of.
Your willingness to NOT live for the things of this world (1 Jn 2:15-17) demonstrates that you love Christ above this world which is at war with Him (Jam 4:4). This brings glory to Christ.
Your willingness to endure persecution, physical or emotional, demonstrates that you value Christ above your own health and reputation (Mat 5:11-12). This brings glory to Christ.
Your willingness to be obedient (1 Jn 2:5), regardless of the situation, demonstrates that Christ is truly Lord (Luke 6:46) and is of greater importance than the passing pleasures of disobedience (Heb 11:24-26). This brings glory to Christ.
Your willingness to trust the Father and His direction and will for your life (Heb 11), regardless of your own preferences or desires, as Jesus did (Luke 22:42), demonstrates faith in His character and promises (Heb 11:6). This brings glory to Christ.
When I say, “demonstrates” I mean to say that it conveys a message to those looking on:
To the Father it conveys a faith, that the sacrifice of His Son was not in vain (Heb 6:6, 10:29).
To the angels, who look on in astonishment (1 Pet 1:12) and rejoice (Luke 15:10), it conveys the greatness of God’s sovereign plan from before the foundation of the world (Mat 25:34, Luke 11:50, Jn 17:24, Eph 1:4, Heb 4:3, 9:26, 1 Pet 1:20, Rev 13:8, 17:8).
To Satan, who fell from glory (Isa 14:12, Luke 10:18) because he sought to be seated higher than his station and to be LIKE The Most High (Isa 14:14), it conveys the truth of Jesus’s words that ‘the first shall be last and the last shall be first’ (Mat 20:16) as He lowered Himself below His station (Heb 2:9) to redeem mankind.
To other believers, whether mature or babes, it bestows encouragement as to the genuineness of our profession (2 Cor 11:22-28), and ignites a passion to walk likewise.
To the unbelievers, it spurs a curiosity as to why anyone would be willing to undergo such a life (1 Cor 1:18). It causes them to see their own condition and ponder whether such a decision is warranted (Jn 3:19-21).
Each of these ‘willingnesses’ demonstrates surrender, which in turn demonstrates faith. Faith in God’s plan, faith in God’s character, faith in God’s provision, faith in God’s omniscience, faith in God’s sacrifice. The just shall LIVE by faith, (Hab 2:4, Heb 10:38) because without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6), and pleasing God is what Jesus lived for (Jn 6:38). Therefore, we make much of Christ when we live as He lived.
Comments