… to the glory of God the Father.
Summary: Everything Jesus did was to bring glory to his Father. His life is an inspiration to all who believe in him.
There is a saying you might have heard that goes like this: ‘If you know, you know.’ It suggests that you have to be part of the ‘IN’ group to get the meaning.
While this is true for many social cliques, it is especially true of Christianity. The Bible refers to this as the ‘stumbling stone’ (Romans 9:32).
Jesus says, ”I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…” (John 10:14). It is really as simple as that. People who don’t know Jesus don’t want to; people who do, do.
Some people take this to mean that we Christians should just shut up and be quiet about our faith. After all, we Christians are ‘predestined’ to be Christians, right? (Romans 8:29-30) The argument is that since those who aren’t Christian are not predestined to be, why bother making so much noise about it?
Two reasons:
First, we humans do not know the end of the story yet. God does. He is, after all, the ‘Alpha and the Omega,’ the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8). So there is that.
Secondly, we need to honor God in all we do.
There is a famous passage in Luke where he describes what is known as the Triumphal Entry of Jesus as he enters Jerusalem just before he is crucified:
“When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!'
'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!'
'I tell you,' he replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’” (Luke 19:37-40)
If we don’t give glory to God, the rocks will. Even they “know.”
Application: Glorify God in all we say and do.
Food for Thought: How does praising God in the public square impact the world around us?
How does praising God in the public square impact the world around us?
We are openly inviting God to make us more aware of His Spirit!
Psalm 22:3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
God hears our praise, and knows our heart, and He moves on our behalf!
Acts 16:25-26 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.
When we praise God honestly, openly, and publicly, the world is able to see His grace and mercy through Christ, and what faith does in a believer’s life and to a person’s soul.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
How does praising God in the public square impact the world around us? We invite God’s presence in us and around us, we stand as a testament to His power within us, and we offer the hope of God’s grace through Christ to those around us.
Thank you, Chris!
What a wonderful invitation to make — inviting God into our lives.
How does praising God in the public square impact the world around us?
John 15:5, I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
James 4:14, Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Our time in these bodies is a puff of smoke, a very, very brief moment in eternity, given to us by God so we could each knowingly choose to serve self, or others in the power of Jesus Christ. Serving self may bring some small, temporary degree of satisfaction, while serving God in the power of Jesus Christ brings eternal reward beginning now.
Believers praise God by dieing to self and living by the power of Jesus Christ in us. Let our Lord Jesus Christ be seen in all we do is to be our goal. Jesus, in His power will effectively minister through us, to all those who must choose the path they will individually take.
Thanks, Ron!
You remind us of a very important truth — the flesh is temporary, the spirit eternal. Following and praising Jesus is a testimony to the truth.
Jesus referred to us as salt and light. Salt was used for flavor and as a preservative. Light penetrates darkness and reveals the deeds of darkness. If we remove salt and light we have a decaying, dying, dark culture. But if we are salt and shine the light… there is much hope and people can see Jesus through us.
Matthew 5: 13 – 16: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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. 16In 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!
What a wonderful perspective! Sharing God’s Light with others is to bring hope — something we all need desperately.