Giving Glory to God: What Are You Magnifying?
All glory to God. That is our daily goal as followers. As with all things that truly matter, we need to analyze a few things to see where we stand. This is very important.
I have talks with my son pretty often about not only doing his chores, but doing them correctly, joyfully, and thankfully. Sure, it sucks to have to clean up dog mess. At one point in our lives, we didn't think we would ever have a dog, even though the kids really wanted one.
It's human nature to see only what we perceive as negative in each situation. It takes work to look at the job in front of you and find the Lord in it. To find the joy in it.
You see, giving glory to God isn't just about our big accomplishments or giving our testimony at church. Obviously, that is very important also, but we have a choice to give God glory in the simple and the mundane. Seeing God and applying His teaching and commands to every part of our lives is the only way to experience the joy He talks about.
Thank you, Lord, for this dog poop because this means You blessed us with a dog. Thank you, Father, for these dirty dishes. This means You blessed us with food and something to prepare it with. Thank you for the lack of financial stability. That means at one point we were blessed financially and didn't recognize it.
Recognizing God's work in all areas of our lives turns our thoughts and our focus to Him, and in that, we have the opportunity to reflect His glory. Living this way and intentionally seeking Him in all situations is valuing Him above all else.
We can't make God more glorious than He already is; He's perfect, but we can dang sure be better mirrors!
Giving glory to God means showing the world what God is like by mirroring His love, justice, mercy, and forgiveness in our daily interactions. Be bold and share that you are broke. Share that you are struggling with lust. Share that you don't have it all together, but God is your anchor, comfort, and strength when the storm is trying to smash you on the rocks.
In these moments of removing all of us that's in the way—our pride and our fears—we shift the focus to God.
Like a telescope, you do not make a distant star bigger; you simply magnify it so people can see how magnificent and beautiful it actually is.
That's what giving glory to God looks like. We don't make Him greater. We live in a way that allows others to see how great He already is.
What are you magnifying?
Thank you, Father, for one more day.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
