Every Christian knows that we are to glorify God. What does it take to glorify God? Perhaps the first and only idea which might pop to mind will be praising God in worship. Within scripture, what brings glorify to God extends beyond worship..

• When we accept those within Christ, God is glorified.

In contrast to the mindset which would ostracize or even demonize those with opposing views on matters of opinion, Paul commanded, "Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory" (Romans 15:7).

• When our love for others produces righteous fruit through Christ, God is glorified.

Paul’s prayer for the Philippian church sums up this idea well. "And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God" (Phil. 1:9-11).

• When we help others with what God has provided, God is glorified through the Messiah.

"Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11). 

• When the motive permeating every facet of our lives involves living for God, God is glorified.

When addressing disciples whose approach to life involved living for themselves by insisting on their rights, Paul challenged them to grow. "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. …  I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

• When more people receive God’s grace and thank him, God is glorified.

Evangelistic confidence leading to more people praising God for what he has done for them causes God to be glorified (2 Corinthians 4:14-15).

Do we want to glorify God? We have only scratched the surface of what scripture records. We need to let go of our agendas and selfishness in order to live for him who died for us. The Lord’s goals and ways need to become our ways. We don’t cause others to stumble because of our preferences. We readily accept others in Christ who might think differently on matters of opinion. We promote the gospel thus winning others to Christ who will thank God. We put informed love into action.

The challenge of glorifying God is within the reach of each one of us. It involves living for the one who died for us.

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Barry Newton

Barry has worked with congregations in Texas, California and Brazil. He and his wife Sofia have two sons. He believes we should love God above all and that to honor this principle will shape daily decisions and silence competing values. Furthermore, we ought to love people in those ways we would like to be treated.

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