Devotional: The Glory of God Leads Us to Worship
When Solomon had finished praying . . . the glory of the LORD filled the temple . . . and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD. (2 Chronicles 7:1-3)
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son of God (John 16:14). Jesus deserves that glory, and indeed, at the final meal with His disciples, Jesus prayed, “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you” (John 17:1).
But what does this glory look like?
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for glory comes from the same root word for “weighty” or “heavy.” In the New Testament, the meaning of the original Greek is more about radiance and brightness. Ultimately, to glorify means “to make much of something.”
We see the glory of God depicted throughout Scripture:
- On Mount Sinai, the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire (Exodus 24:16)
- God said that the tabernacle would be sanctified by His glory (Exodus 29:43)
- As God’s glory passed by Moses, God covered him with His hand such that Moses could only see His back (Exodus 33:18-23)
- The priests could not stand up because the glory of the Lord filled the house of God (2 Chronicles 5:14)
The Holy Spirit points us back to Jesus with good reason. Too often, other “good” things and the not-so-good things of this world compete with Christ for our affections. Cheap glory substitutes are offered to us every day. And when we allow someone or something to edge Christ out of His rightful place at the center of our lives, we have entered into idolatry.
As we see in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, glory first awakens awe and awe then unleashes worship. But our awe should always be driven by our relationship with God (vertical) and never by the relationships we have with His creation (horizontal).
Here are just a few ways we can glorify Jesus. These activities stir us to wonder and, ultimately, to give praise to the one and only God who is worthy of our adoration:
- Our salvation. Don’t be ashamed to tell your redemption story to anyone who will listen!
- Our sanctification. Life is hard, but you will grow in Christ as you persevere through trials and learn to rely on Him through it all.
- Bearing fruit. Jesus tells us in John 15:8 that the Father is glorified when you are fruitful.
- Our good deeds. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus encourages you to shine your light before men so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father.
So when was the last time you stopped and considered the glory of God? What other persons or things compete for the affection of your heart? Can you think of a time when glory led you to experience awe, which led you to worship God?
Father, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to point me to the person and work of your Son. Too often, my attention and affection and even my worship are focused on the things of this world. Jesus, I praise you for your perfect sacrifice that allows me to live at peace with the Father. I am in awe of your amazing love for me. Spirit, guide me to worship you in spirit and truth and help me make much of Jesus in everything I say and do this week.
Walking by faith and enjoying the homeschooling adventure of a lifetime!
If you enjoyed this devotional by Davis Carman, enjoy reading his devotional entitled Rooted In Christ.
Davis is the president of Apologia Educational Ministries, the #1 publisher of Creation-based science and Bible curriculum. He is also the author of four illustrated children’s books designed to help kids learn a biblical worldview. He believes that if there was ever a time to homeschool, it is now!
Davis’s four books include: Good Morning, God, based on Deuteronomy 6, A Light for My Path, an ABC book based on Psalm 119, In the Beginning, based on the Creation account in Genesis, and Psalms to Know Early.