—to the glory and praise of God.
Summary: In this meditation, we arrive at the end of Paul’s prayer. Here at the end, Paul points us to the goal of bringing glory and praise to God.
As we arrive at the end of Paul’s prayer, we can be forgiven if we are wondering, “Why?”
Why do we want to discern what is best? Why do we need “depth of insight?” Why would anyone want to make an effort to be pure and blameless?
Paul’s answer is simple: “… to the glory and praise of God.”
There are other reasons, of course. When we learn to discern what is right and develop some depth of insight, we begin to understand what it means to be part of God’s family. Paul’s ending to the prayer simply states the obvious: When God’s children behave in a godly way, it reflects well on their Father.
Yet, like so many things in the Bible, there is more to this than meets the eye. Let’s return to the beginning of Paul’s prayer.
He prays that our “love may abound…”
God is love (1 John 4:8). John prefaces this fact by stating, “Whoever does not love does not know God.”
God’s Word tells us that we are to love (agápē) God above all else, and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Whether we are able to love or not testifies to our relationship with God.
The power of love is the power to change hearts and minds. God wants “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2: 3-4). Paul’s prayer echoes this truth.
Love is the key to expanding the kingdom of God on earth.
What, then, about heaven? What about the “day of Christ” when we meet our Lord? Do we want to be found wallowing in sin when the Lord comes for us?
Paul’s includes a request that we are “pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” There is a reason for this. Paul knows better than most that we do not achieve this purity on our own (Romans 7:14-20). Instead, we have to rely on Jesus.
This is called faith.
When we “discern what is best,” we realize that some faith is “dead” and active faith leads to life (James 2:14-26). To be pure and blameless for the day of Christ requires us to be active in faith and engaged with our Lord.
What brings glory and praise to God?
Faith, love, and a growing kingdom of God here on earth.
Application: Live to bring glory and praise to God.
Food for Thought: How does living to please God bring him glory and praise?
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I think you kind of answered the question in the devotion. If we live to please God it reflects on Who He is. It shines a light on Him to others to make Him known.
One way to think of glorifying something, or in this case, Someone, is to make them known or better known to others. To put a magnifying glass on Him for others to see. We do this through what we say and how we live.
Matthew 5: 14 – 16: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Thank you, Rich!
I did kinda answer the question but I like your “magnifying glass” and how it enlarges the point! 🙂
Very good devotion and I like Rich’s good answer.
I think too that living to please God brings Him glory and praise because people see a difference in someone. People see how someone works, reacts, conducts themselves, and there is an unspoken (or spoken) invitation, a comforting spirit about someone.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Living to please God means not living to please the world or self. That is a real freedom from entanglement that others notice, and gives someone an opportunity to share the grace of God.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
When people are able to see the grace of God working in the lives of His children, and the good that comes from it, it shows His glory, and our lives are a living praise to Him.
Psalm 22:3
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Thank you, Chris!
“Living to please God means not living to please the world or self.”
You said a mouthful! 🙂
As always great input from Brothers!
How does living to please God bring Him glory and praise?
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
We are all Gods creation, called to serve His purpose as we submit to His will in our lives over our own human desires. All believers have responded to this calling, and chosen to become dead to the desires of our flesh as we seek to serve Him as He makes Himself known to the world around us through His good works among them.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27
We begin to live lives knowing there are no coincidences, no accidental encounters as we begin to fully realize we are living in His plan for our lives, living His will which has become our will. We have received eternal salvation and remain on this earth for only one purpose. “To serve God.”
There is no higher calling than to become small so He can be fully revealed to others. We serve with eternal joy as His power flows through us and we live lives pointing to God as the only true power of His good works. We walk knowing God is using us to plant seeds which He will water and know we will remain on earth until His work through us is complete, and He calls us home.
Thank you, Ron!
I especially appreciate the Ephesians 2:10 quote:
“[We are] … created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
That adds a sense of structure and purpose to our lives that is otherwise missing.