By Dusty (Reflections on the Life of a Christian)
God is Worthy of Glory
God is worthy of all glory. He alone is consistently deserving of our praise. Even the majesty and splendor of creation exalts His name.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11)
"I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." (Psalm 57:9-11)
"Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)
There is no other like God. No one can compare to Him. He is worthy.
God is Glory
God is not just worthy of glory. He is glory. Merriam-Webster's definition of glory contains the following phrases:
something that secures praise
great beauty and splendor: magnificence
something marked by beauty or resplendence
the splendor and beatific happiness of heaven; broadly:eternity
a state of great [...] exaltation
Each of these statements are a part of who God is. It is evidenced in all He has created. It is demonstrated through Jesus:
"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." (Hebrews 1:3)
God in all His glory chose to love us and send His son to die for us that we may live. He did it even though there was not a single person worthy of it. One of the most oft quoted verses of scripture tells us:
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
We fall short, but God does not. He is Glory defined. He is glory revealed.
God Gives Glory
God is worthy of our glory and He is glory itself. Each of us fall short of Him. And yet, even while we are in a state of ruin, He loves us and offers us the opportunity to be glorified in Him.
We spend so much time and effort trying to win the praises and acceptance of man. We want to be seen as glorious and victorious in their eyes. We live for their praise. And in so doing, we often miss out on the true glory that we could have through Christ Jesus. Jesus spoke to this end by saying:
"How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44)
Instead of seeking earthly approval, we need to spend our efforts seeking the glory that comes from God. He is true glory. He is its origin and He freely offers it to us through Jesus Christ.
God is ALL-GLORIOUS
He is the worthy recipient. He is Glory. He is the giver of glory.
Will you recognize God in all of His glory? Will you praise His holy name? Will you seek His glory through Jesus Christ?
Dusty Rayburn is a lay minister and fellow blogger. He lives in Locust Fork, Alabama, has been married six years and has one amazing daughter. In his words: "I am a Christian. I am not perfect, nor do I imagine I ever will be. My God is perfect. I am forgiven. I am loved. I am His." You can find him on Twitter and at Reflections on the Life of a Christian.