May 4, 2022 | Glorify
C.S. Lewis said, “In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy him.” God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving and delight not duty. Have you ever thought about glorifying God in this way? Have you ever taken the time to enjoy Him? Has He ever made you smile?
It easy to get lost in the awesomeness of God. He is certainly awesome in every way. All we need to do is look at the star covered sky to understand this. But do you think He wants us to glorify Him with a detached feeling of awe, or do you think maybe He wants us to glorify Him in a more personal, less awe-struck way?
To glorify something is to, “cause to be or treat as being more splendid, excellent etc. as an act of worship” (Dictionary.com). In church we worship through Scripture, music, drama or any other way we can think of to express our reverence. But do we laugh enough, dance enough and romance enough? Do we let our imaginations let us take us to more joyful places where we might find ourselves running through fields of beautiful flowers with joy bursting so boldly that we can’t stand still?
I’m sure we’ve all experienced those places where there was no room for frolicking among the flowers, no laughing, no applause, no outbursts of joy, just disciplined rhetoric outlined so as not to miss anything. Is that really what God is looking for from us? Or do you think He wants us to enjoy Him in such a way that we find delight in Him?
1 Chronicles 16:23-27 “Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.” These are words asking us to glorify God, not just with strength but with joy. You can almost feel the writer’s elation. This is not a picture of head down, eyes closed but of heads and voices raised in joyful melody.
We glorify God best when we enjoy Him through all that He has made. Every moment is worship if we understand where every moment comes from, if we enjoy every moment with the understanding that God has made all things for us to enjoy.
“They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; over the majesty of the LORD they shout from the west. Therefore, in the east give glory to the LORD; in the coastlands of the sea, give glory to the name of the LORD, the God of Israel” (Isaiah 24:14-15).
In this mixed up, lost and broken world, its sometimes tempting to get lost in the despair. We forget the things that God has done through His Son to win for us our salvation. We overlook the promise of heaven given to every believer. We ignore the things He has said and done to guide us onto the narrow path, and we neglect His instructions for a better life. We get so caught up in the negative that we forget to glorify God for the never-ending positive things of Christ.
God would have that all of life would be approached with joy, even in our trials, because we know that whatever happens here lasts for only a moment. We glorify God because He has made a way for all believers to enjoy an everlasting life where the momentary shortfalls of this life will be no longer be with us.
“O magnify the Lord with me. And let us exalt His name together!” (Psalm 34:3).
“I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving!” (Psalm 69:30).
“I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify your name forever!” (Psalm 86:12).
“You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God. I extol You.” (Psalm 118:28).
We have much for which to glorify our God because He dwells with us still. Our momentary trials can be overcome in the knowledge that God has a greater plan for us in store. Trust in Him and glorify Him with all you do. Please pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we glorify Your name above all other names and give you thanks for all that you have done. May all our works please you as acts of worship and praise. Amen.
