Glory
Millionaires, Olympic athletes and superstars excel in shrewdness, strength,
talent, beauty, discipline and sometimes just plain good luck. Thus they
enjoy the kind of adoration many people crave. But the Bible reminds us
that even the greatest human honor and splendor will fade away. Alexander
the Great's conquests are legendary, but only crumbling artifacts remain
of his empire. God alone is perfectly and eternally glorious by his very
nature. Scripture calls him the "King of glory" (Psalm 24:7-10).
He is, and always has been, magnificent, powerful and holy. Everything
he does demonstrates his glory, and nothing can detract from it.
Humans,
because of our sin, fall far short of God's perfection. But the amazing
truth is that those who trust Jesus Christ for salvation share in his
awesome qualities because he puts his Spirit in them. By his Spirit, we
can make God's glorious nature known on earth, just as Jesus did when
he was here in human form. When our salvation is completed, Christ will
give us perfect, glorified bodies like his heavenly one, untouched by
sin or sickness.
Only
God possesses true glory.
Exodus 15:11
Isaiah 40:3-8; 48:8-11
Romans 3:23
Philippians 3:18-19
God reveals his glory through many means, including nature, his
marvelous acts, visible demonstrations of his presence, and most importantly,
through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 5:23-26
2 Chronicles5:13-14
Psalm 19:1
Habakkuk 2:14
John 1:14; 11:1-4
The revelation of God's glory inspires worship from all he has
created. By his very nature he is worthy of our praise.
1 Chronicles 16:28-29
Psalm 8:1-4; 29:9; 108:1-5
Romans 16:27
Revelation 4:11; 19:7
Christians share in Christ's glory. Now we experience it partially
, but when he returns, we will experience it completely.
John 17:20-24
Romans 8:16-18
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Philippians 3:20-21
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
1 Peter 4:14; 5:1-4, 8-10
It is our responsibility and privilege to reveal God's glory on
earth, as Jesus did, by trusting and worshiping him, loving one another
and living godly lives.
Psalm 34:1-4
John 15:5-8
1 Corinthians 10:31
1 Peter 1:3-7; 2:12
The phrase "Give glory to God" sometimes means "Confess
your sin" or "Tell the truth".
Joshua 7:14-19
Jeremiah 13:15-16
John 9:24
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