Prioritizing God's Glory in Daily Christian Life
Prioritizing God's glory in daily Christian life involves recognizing God's inherent worth and actively seeking to honor Him in all aspects of existence. The concept of God's glory is deeply rooted in scripture, where it is described as His majesty, power, works, and holiness [3]. God's glory is exhibited in Christ [3], who is the image of God and the brightness of His glory [2].
Scripture emphasizes that God is worthy of praise and glory due to His majesty, glory, excellency, greatness, holiness, wisdom, power, goodness, and mercy [1]. For instance, Psalm 96:1,6 speaks of God's majesty, and Psalm 138:5 refers to His glory [1]. The prophet Isaiah proclaims, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3) [1]. This inherent glory is not something God gains from human actions, but rather something He possesses eternally [3].
Christians are called to reflect this glory in their lives. one tradition writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that believers are "being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" [5]. This transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit [5]. John Gill, one theologian, notes that the ministration of the Gospel glorifies Christ by asserting His divine perfections and presenting Him as the "brightness of his glory" [10].
Prioritizing God's glory manifests in various ways:
- Praise and Worship: A primary way to glorify God is through praise. Psalm 22:23 and 50:23 indicate that God is glorified by praise [1]. This praise is due to God's nature and perfections, as well as His wonderful works and blessings [13]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, suggests that when we receive mercy or achieve success, we should not take glory for ourselves but ascribe it wholly to God [12].
- Humility: Humility is essential for serving God and is a characteristic of saints [4]. Christ Himself is presented as an example of humility (Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:5-8) [4]. God regards and hears the humble, granting them His presence and exalting them [4].
- Diligence in Service: Christians are called to diligence in seeking God, obeying Him, and striving for perfection [6]. This includes cultivating Christian graces, guarding against defilement, and making one's calling and election sure [6]. These actions, performed out of love, contribute to glorifying God.
- Righteous Conduct: one tradition states that "our glory is in this, in the knowledge which we have that our way of life in the world... has been holy and true in the eyes of God" (2 Corinthians 1:12 BBE) [7]. This suggests that living a life of integrity and holiness brings glory to God.
- Proclaiming the Gospel: The glory of the Gospel exceeds that of the law [5]. Preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus Christ with boldness is a means of glorifying God [8]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, notes that the "glory that should follow" Christ's work includes the widespread preaching of the Gospel and the moral changes it brings [9].
- Crucifixion to the World: Paul declared, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14 KJV). Clarke interprets this as glorying in the doctrine of salvation through Christ crucified, and in the persecution experienced for attachment to Christ [11]. This detachment from worldly values for Christ's sake glorifies God.
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, through John Chrysostom, emphasizes that honor and glory are not mere words. Since God has honored humanity through His actions, believers should honor Him through their "works and deeds" [14]. This underscores the active, practical nature of prioritizing God's glory in daily life.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glory of God, The — Exhibited in Christ -- Joh 1:14; 2Co 4:6; Heb 1:3. Exhibited in His name. -- De 28:58; Ne 9:5. His majesty. -- Job 37:22; Ps 93:1; 104:1; 145:5,12; Isa 2:10. His power. -- Ex 15:1,6; Ro 6:4. His works. -- Ps 19:1; 111:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11. Described as Great. -- Ps 138:5. Eternal. -- Ps 104:31. Rich. -- Eph 3:16. Highly exalted. -- Ps 8:1; 113:4. Exhibited to Moses. -- Ex 34:5-7; 33:18-23. Stephen. -- Ac 7:55. His Church. -- De 5:24; Ps 102:16. Enlightens the Church -- Isa 60:1,2; Re 21:11,23. Saints desire to behold -- Ps 63:2; 90:16. God”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glory — God is, to his people -- Ps 3:3; Zec 2:5. Christ is, to his people -- Isa 60:1; Lu 2:32. The gospel ordained to be, to saints -- 1Co 2:7. Of the gospel, exceeds that of the law -- 2Co 3:9,10. The joy of saints is full of -- 1Pe 1:8. Spiritual Is given by God. -- Ps 84:11. Is given by Christ. -- Joh 17:22. Christ. -- Joh 17:22. Is the work of the Holy Spirit. -- 2Co 3:18. Eternal Procured by the death of Christ. -- Heb 2:10. Accompanies salvation by Christ. -- 2Ti 2:10. Inherited by saints. -- 1Sa 2:8; Ps 73:24; Pr 3:35; Col 3:4; 1Pe 5:10. Saints called to. --”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 1:12 (BBE) — For our glory is in this, in the knowledge which we have that our way of life in the world, and most of all in relation to you, has been holy and true in the eyes of God; not in the wisdom of the flesh, but in the grace of God.”
- Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
- 1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 1:11: The glory that should follow - Not only the glory of his resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and the effusion of his Spirit; but that grand manifestation of God's infinite love to the world in causing the Gospel of his Son to be everywhere preached, and the glorious moral changes which should take place in the world under that preaching, and the final glorification of all them who had here received the report, and continued faithful unto death. And we may add to this the ineffable glorification of the human nature of Jesus Christ, which, throughout eternity, will ”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 16:12: He shall glorify me,.... In the ministration of the Gospel, which is "the ministration of the Spirit", Co2 3:8; and asserts Christ to be God over all, to have all that the Father hath, to be possessed of all divine perfections, to have the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him; ascribes the same works and worship to him as to, the Father; and, as in a glass, holds him forth to be beheld as the brightness of his glory, and his glory to be seen in it, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth: it declares him to be the only Saviour and Red”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 6:14: But God forbid that I should glory - Whatever others may do, or whatever they may exult or glory in, God forbid that I should exult, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; in the grand doctrine, that justification and salvation are only through Christ crucified, he having made an atonement for the sin of the world by his passion and death. And I glory, also, in the disgrace and persecution which I experience through my attachment to this crucified Christ. By whom the world is crucified unto me - Jewish rites and Gentile vanities are equally insipid to me; ”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 115:1: Sufficient care is here taken to answer both the pretensions of self and the reproaches of idolaters. I. Boasting is here for ever excluded, Psa 115:1. Let no opinion of our own merits have any room either in our prayers or in our praises, but let both centre in God's glory. 1. Have we received any mercy, gone through any service, or gained any success? We must not assume the glory of it to ourselves, but ascribe it wholly to God. We must not imagine that we do any thing for God by our own strength, or deserve any thing from God by our own righteousness; but all ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 148:13: Let them praise the name of the Lord, His nature and perfections, and celebrate the glory of them; and his wonderful works, and the blessings of his goodness, both of providence and grace; even all the above creatures and things, celestial and terrestrial, for the following reasons; for his name alone is excellent; the name of the Lord is himself, who is excellent in power, wisdom, goodness, truth, and faithfulness, and in all other perfections of his nature; his works, by which he is known, are excellent, both of nature and of grace, and proclaim his glory; his S”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: the words before, and the argument here is complete; viz., that there is One God. of whom all this is said, that is, the Ever Blessed Trinity. Some good mss . favor this reading in the text. God”? Or when it is said, “There is no other name whereby we must be saved”: and again, “There is salvation in no other”? ( Acts iv. 12 .) “To Him be honor and glory forever. Amen.” Now honor and glory are not mere words; and since He has honored us not by words only, but by what He has done for us, so let us honor Him by works and deeds. Yet”