Yours is the Glory Now and Forever…

Glory is more important than we think. 

In fact, glory was essential in Jesus’ life (See John 17). It is for us too.

The last 200-300 years human achievements top the charts. For example, we gone from the horse-drawn-buggy at 5-6 mph to the moon and back on a spacecraft in a few days. Is it any wonder that human beings want to claim all the glory. But Jesus said: “Yours is the glory.”

But when it comes to progress in human relations, sadly, the human heart has sorely lagged behind. We cannot readily say, “here in the love of Christ we stand”! We can claim no glory here. Not with the ubiquity presence of poverty, injustice, and genocide. The power to change our hearts and present us as the glorious beings we truly are in Christ (Col 3:4) has been squandered. 

Is it time to come hat in hand to give the glory to God? It is!

How?

The following foci appear simple. They’re actually profound. Focus on one of them this week. Another next week…

1)    Focus on the glowing brilliance of God’s power.

The person of God in Scripture is bedecked with gold, rubies, diamonds, and sapphire. He is seen as the brilliance of the sun, a “blinding” light. There is awe.

What happens when we glimpse this glory? The knees buckle, we fall prostrate.

God’s radiant splendor surpasses by the whole earth, the galaxies, the universes and beyond. Make Psalm 19 your companion for a week. Use it to give glory to God.

2)    Focus on the strength of God.

All that is made was made by the Word (John 1:1-2). He made us like himself. He spoke with radiant power through Moses, “Let my people go, Pharaoh!” He parted the sea.

He walked on water! He battled human powers by means of self-sacrifice. He won!

His love constrains us. We love the unlovable because while we were enemies, Christ died for us. This is God’s strength in us. Track the grace of God in your life for a whole day.

3)    Focus on the beauty of God.

He is the good and beautiful God. Staggering beauty surrounds us. The beauty of a baby. A waterfall. The majestic Rockies. Northern Lights. Sunsets. These are a few of my favorite things! What are your reminders of the beauty of God?

4)    Focus on the goodness of God.

God is good, all the time. He gifted us with a good life in him. He delights in showering us with rain and sunshine. God delights to serve our interest, providing for our overall well-being.

When we pray “yours is the glory,” we are asking God to receive our worship for his radiant splendor, his graceful presence, his beautiful mind and work and his good life for us.

I will delight in praying this for you and me.