Graceful Truth

Living for God's Glory

February 01, 2015

We have an insatiable desire for self-glory. When we live for ourselves…

  • We are hurt when people don’t recognize our accomplishments
  • We draw attention to ourselves in conversations
  • We make sure people know about what we’ve done, thinking it will give us needed joy
  • We love titles and positions
  • We are always thinking about how we feel
  • Our thoughts are more of us than others and more about us than God
  • We rarely pause and think how what we are doing or saying will reflect on God
  • We wear clothes, buy cars, live in houses that draw attention to us
  • We judge others and tear them down in criticism (thinking it will make us look bigger…in reality, it does just the opposite)
  • We really do think that our opinion and ideas are always right; and certainly better than those around us
  • We get frustrated with our mate, our kids, our parents, our colleagues when they don’t do what we think they should do
  • We often over-work to gain approval—to be recognized by others.
  • We are ungrateful and upset when we don’t have what we want. (we think we deserve more)
  • We are upset when we are passed over for a job, a promotion, a position, a ministry
  • We are irritated when others get the praise we think we deserve

But we were made for so much more.

We are most satisfied when God is most glorified. When we realize our purpose and lay aside our self-absorption, we begin to fulfill the reason for our existence. Paul reminds us of the multiple ways we can glorify God.

1. WORSHIPING HIM

“…for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3)

2. BELIEVING HIM

“Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:19-21)

3. FOLLOWING HIM

“…so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:10-11)

4. LOVING PEOPLE LIKE HIM

“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

5. TELLING OUR STORY

“…they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they were glorifying God because of me.” (Galatians 1:23-24)

6. SPREADING THE GOSPEL

“For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15)

7. WALKING IN PURITY

“Flee immorality…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”(1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

8. GIVING GENEROUSLY

“For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all…” (2 Corinthians 9:12)

9. THANKING HIM

“For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.’ (2 Corinthians 4:15)

10. EXALTING HIM IN LIFE AND IN DEATH!

“…according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21)



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