Motivation to Glorify God and Repentance in Devotional Life

The motivation to glorify God and the practice of repentance are central to Christian devotional life, often intertwined in biblical teaching. Glorifying God involves acknowledging His attributes and works, while repentance signifies a turning away from sin and toward God.

Glorifying God

To "glorify God" means to acknowledge His inherent worth, majesty, and power, and to reflect His character in one's life ^[1]. This concept is deeply rooted in Scripture, with numerous passages calling believers to glorify God. For instance, 1 Chronicles 16:28 commands, "Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!" ^[1]. The Psalms frequently echo this call, urging praise and magnification of God's name ^{[4, 8]}. Psalm 22:23 states, "You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!" ^[1].

one tradition reasons for glorifying God are manifold in the biblical witness:

His Holiness: Revelation 15:4 declares, "For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed" ^[1].
His Mercy and Truth: Psalm 115:1 states, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" Romans 15:9 also connects Gentile praise to God's mercy ^{[1, 2]}.
His Faithfulness: Isaiah 25:1 praises God for His wonderful plans, "accomplished in perfect faithfulness" ^[1].
His Wondrous Works: Matthew 15:31 describes people glorifying God after witnessing Jesus' miracles, and Acts 4:21 mentions people glorifying God for a healing miracle ^[1].
His Judgments: Isaiah 25:3 and Revelation 14:7 indicate that even God's judgments lead to His glorification ^[1].
Deliverance: Psalm 50:15 encourages calling upon God in trouble, promising deliverance and subsequent glorification ^[1].
Grace to Others: The spread of grace among believers also leads to God's glory, as seen in Acts 11:18 and 2 Corinthians 9:13 ^[1].

Believers are specifically obligated to glorify God, as 1 Corinthians 6:20 states, "For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body" ^[1]. Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of glorifying God, as He Himself declared, "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do" (John 17:4) ^[1]. The glorification of God is made acceptable through Christ ^[1].

Practically, glorifying God is accomplished through various means:

Relying on His Promises: Romans 4:20 describes Abraham glorifying God by being "strengthened in faith, giving glory to God" ^[1].
Praising Him: Psalm 50:23 connects praise with glorifying God: "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me" ^[1]. Matthew Henry notes that devotion should be "warmly excited" to praise God, acknowledging Him as a "bountiful benefactor" ^[8]. He also observes that "faithful prayers may quickly be turned into joyful praises" ^[9].
Doing All for His Glory: 1 Corinthians 10:31 famously instructs, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" ^[1].

Even afflictions can be beneficial in promoting the glory of God, as seen in John 9:1-3, where Jesus explains a man's blindness was "so that the works of God might be displayed in him" ^[3]. Afflictions can also teach God's will, turn individuals to Him, and lead them to seek Him in prayer ^[3].

Repentance

Repentance, in the Christian context, involves a change of mind and heart that results in a change of direction and action, turning away from sin and towards God. It is a fundamental aspect of the Christian life, closely linked to God's favor and joy.

The Bible indicates that God takes great joy in the repentance of His people. Luke 15:7 and 10 speak of joy in heaven over one sinner who repents ^[7]. This divine joy is also associated with faith, fear of God, prayer, hope in His mercy, meekness, and uprightness ^[7].

Repentance is often prompted by various experiences, including affliction. The Bible records instances where suffering leads individuals and communities to turn back to God. Deuteronomy 4:30-31 suggests that in distress, people will return to the Lord ^[3]. Similarly, Nehemiah 1:8-9 recounts a prayer acknowledging that if the people return to God, He will gather them ^[3]. Psalm 78:34 notes that when God struck His people, they sought Him ^[3]. Hosea 2:6-7 describes God hedging up a path with thorns so that His people would return to Him ^[3]. Afflictions can also convince individuals of sin, as seen in Job 36:8-9 and Psalm 119:67 ^[3].

Prayer is a common response to affliction and a means of expressing repentance. Individuals pray for pardon and deliverance from sin during times of trouble, as exemplified in Psalm 39:8 and 51:1 ^[6]. They also pray to be "turned to God," as in Psalm 80:7 and Jeremiah 31:18 ^[6].

The concept of repentance is not merely a one-time event but an ongoing aspect of devotional life. It involves a continuous turning from self-reliance and sin to reliance on God's grace and obedience to His will. This ongoing process is essential for maintaining a relationship with God and experiencing His favor ^[5].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glorifying God — Commanded -- 1Ch 16:28; Ps 22:23; Isa 42:12. Due to him -- 1Ch 16:29. For his Holiness. -- Ps 99:9; Re 15:4. Mercy and truth. -- Ps 115:1; Ro 15:9. Faithfulness and truth. -- Isa 25:1. Wondrous works. -- Mt 15:31; Ac 4:21. Judgments. -- Isa 25:3; Eze 28:22; Re 14:7. Deliverance. -- Ps 50:15. Grace to others. -- Ac 11:18; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24. Obligation of saints to -- 1Co 6:20. Is acceptable through Christ -- Php 1:11; 1Pe 4:11. Christ, an example of -- Joh 17:4. Accomplished by Relying on his promises. -- Ro 4:20. Praising him. -- Ps 50:23. Doing all ”
Romans “and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” -- Romans 15:9”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
Psalms “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. -- Psalms 69:30”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Favour of God, The — Christ the special object of -- Lu 2:52. Is the source of Mercy. -- Isa 60:10. Spiritual life. -- Ps 30:5. Spiritual wisdom leads to -- Pr 8:35. Mercy and truth lead to -- Pr 3:3,4. Saints Obtain. -- Pr 12:2. Encompassed by. -- Ps 5:12. Strengthened by. -- Ps 30:7. Victorious through. -- Ps 44:3. Preserved through. -- Job 10:12. Exalted in. -- Ps 89:17. Sometimes tempted to doubt. -- Ps 77:7. Domestic blessings traced to -- Pr 18:22. Disappointment of enemies an assured evidence of -- Ps 41:11. Given in answer to prayer -- Job 33:26. Pray for -- ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Joy of God Over His People, The — Greatness of, described -- Zep 3:17. On account of their Repentance. -- Lu 15:7,10. Faith. -- Heb 11:5,6. Fear of him. -- Ps 147:11. Praying to him. -- Pr 15:8. Hope in his mercy. -- Ps 147:11. Meekness. -- Ps 149:4. Uprightness. -- 1Ch 29:17; Pr 11:20. Leads to him Prosper them. -- De 30:9. Do them good. -- De 28:63; Jer 32:41. Deliver them. -- 2Sa 22:20. Comfort them. -- Isa 65:19. Give them the inheritance. -- Nu 14:8. Illustrated -- Isa 62:5; Lu 15:23,24. Exemplified Solomon. -- 1Ki 10:9.”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 105:1: Our devotion is here warmly excited; and we are stirred up, that we may stir up ourselves to praise God. Observe, I. The duties to which we are here called, and they are many, but the tendency of them all is to give unto God the glory due unto his name. 1. We must give thanks to him, as one who has always been our bountiful benefactor and requires only that we give him thanks for his favours - poor returns for rich receivings. 2. Call upon his name, as one whom you depend upon for further favours. Praying for further mercies is accepted as an acknowledgment of fo”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 63:3: How soon are David's complaints and prayers turned into praises and thanksgivings! After two verses that express his desire in seeking God, here are some that express his joy and satisfaction in having found him. Faithful prayers may quickly be turned into joyful praises, if it be not our own fault. Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord (Psa 105:3), and let them praise him for working those desires in them, and giving them assurance that he will satisfy them. David was now in a wilderness, and yet had his heart much enlarged in blessing God. Even in a”

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