How Do We Glorify God?

I awakened in the night this week with this on my mind. The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647) is: What is the chief end of man? And the answer is: To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Our parents reared my sister and me in the Methodist church. I have no clue if the Methodist church even taught this, but I know I had never heard it before we moved to Florida and the pastor of our small Presbyterian church in the Tampa area mentioned this in a sermon one Sunday. The words stuck with me even though by then, I was in my mid-thirties.

In the night this week I pondered what it means to glorify God. So, I went to AI for my research. If you use AI for nothing else, it is excellent at research. That is how I use it.

HEBREW AND GREEK

I asked for the word glorify in both Hebrew and Greek. This is what I was told: In Hebrew –  Kabed—verb meaning “to be heavy, weighty” and by extension “to honor, make honorable,” often rendered “glorify” or “honor” when used of God or parents. (Perplexity)

Greek: Doxazo—the main New Testament verb meaning “to glorify, honor, praise, magnify” used both for God glorifying Christ and believers glorifying God. (Perplexity)

How Do We Glorify God? @DDuPreeWilliams #Faith #GlorifyGod Share on X

BIG QUESTION – HOW?

My next question is, how do we as believers glorify God? Well, it certainly means that we are to bring honor to him in our words, thoughts, and actions. It also means we should take on God’s character.

I know. That last one is hard. But the Bible tells us that the moment we become true believers through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have Christ living in us. So, showing forth His character shouldn’t be that hard. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. It shouldn’t be that hard, should it?

We are so accustomed to our old lives, thoughts, words, deeds, that as the Bible says in Romans 3:23 (ESV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. As believers, we are to put off our old self. This is found in Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV) To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

 FIVE WAYS TO GLORIFY GOD

• Acknowledge who God is
• Reflect His character
• Obey Him in everyday life
• Point others to Him
• Trust Him, even when it’s hard

Piece of cake, huh? Yes, I know. It isn’t always that easy. But remember, you have Holy Spirit with you always to guide you. And Christ is within you! Just call on them when you fail and do better tomorrow. Remember, you are a child of The King. The living Lamb of God.

Blessings, y’all!

I have to add a postscript to this. Tuesday was a horrible day for me. It seemed nothing went right. Just silly, mundane things really, but I failed to glorify God, especially in my thoughts, and actions. This is when Holy Spirit showed up, reminding me of Whose child I am. I took all those things to the foot of the cross and laid them down. The relief was instantaneous and my day only got better and better. There is such power in bowing before the Lord and laying down our guilt and shame.

You are in my prayers.

Y’all know I love hymns, but I also love this praise song. We frequently sing this in our worship services.