06/22/2021
Do we continue to live for ourselves, and not for Jesus Christ who died for us? Do we not realize that by His death we too have died, and by his resurrection all believers have been raised from the dead in Him? It is in this way that we owe our lives as a debt to Jesus. We are following more than an idea that has been proposed to us, but a life that was given for us. Our belief in Christ is for more than our own salvation, and healing, but so that we can glorify God.
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV
A great many new Christians go to the altar to accept Jesus as their savior so that they might have eternal life, or to be mercifully relieved of life’s suffering so that they will experience His peace, and joy. This is natural, but Jesus calls us to Himself, and God, for a far greater purpose… to glorify God with our lives. God tells us why He created us… to glorify Himself…
“everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.””
Isaiah 43:7 ESV
And the Apostle Paul tells us how we should live as Christians…
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
Is this how we are conducting ourselves in faith, and in our lives? Are we living so that we might be rewarded, or are we living to bring glory to God? I was reading my devotional this morning and read a similar thought offered by pastor Andrew Murray in the late 1800s. Listen to his words regarding this subject…
“Many Christians still need to realize how unwise they are, living only for themselves. At conversion, they think more of their own salvation, and much less of the glory of God and the purchased right Christ has to their lives. Blessed is the one who realizes the importance of total devotion to God.” - Andrew Murray
It is natural for us to, at first, be drawn to Jesus to receive the salvation He offers us, or the relief from life’s misery He provides us. When Jesus was ministering He performed many miracles, and healed a great number of people. He did this to draw them to Himself, and God; it was through these rewards they were made to believe, but His purpose was far greater than to impress them with rewards, it was to glorify God.
“When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.”
John 13:31 ESV
We grow step by step from the babies in faith that once needed to be offered eternal life, and miracles, to believe, into mature Christians who give ourselves fully so that God will be glorified. We call this maturation a journey, a pilgrimage, the way, the walk, an unveiling, and by many other names, but by whatever name we choose, it is our process of growing in faith until we have yielded our lives totally to God, and are bringing Him glory in all we do… in all we are.
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
So whether we are new Christians who are being nourished by the breast milk of faith, or the mature Saints who dine on the meat and potatoes of faith, we have all died in Christ, will each be raised in Him, and every one of us are meant to glorify God to some varying, and ever advancing, degree, until our lives belong totally to the Lord. Are you walking the way to glory today?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus who you sent to redeem us, and to demonstrate for us how we should glorify you in all we do, and in the entirety of our lives. We give ourselves increasingly to Christ as we grow day by day in our faith, and in glorifying you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who rewards His children. Praised be your name for every step in faith that you encourage us to take, and for showing us the glow of your glory as we draw nearer to you. Merciful are you Lord for the warm breast, and its milk that feeds the new believer, and for the solid food that your Word provides the growing Christians as they sit at your table and dine on the meat of your Word. Your grace is sufficient for us Father, and leads us forward as we continue to glorify you. Wash us clean in the blood of Christ, and remove our sin from us as far as the East is from the west. Make us worthy in Jesus so that we will be seated eternally at your table, and come to glow with the radiance of your light… your glory… forevermore.
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”
2 Peter 1:16-18 ESV
Rich Forbes