PONDERING... How can we glorify God?

This is part of a catechism study we're doing on Sunday mornings.

How can we glorify God?

We glorify God by enjoying Him, loving Him, trusting Him, and by obeying His will, commands, and law.

1 John 1:3-4 ESV - "3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."

Ephesians 2:19-21 ESV - "19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV - "16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Deuteronomy 11:1 ESV - "1 "You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always."

BREAKDOWN

Glorify?

We addressed this a few weeks ago. It means to make much of, to exalt, to praise.

Enjoy?

We talked about this, too. Loosely, to enjoy is to genuinely desire to do or be with.

Love?

A strong passion and intense caring for someone or something, extending even to the point of self-sacrifice for the betterment of the respective “love-recipient”; devotion to.

Trust?

"To place confidence in; to rely on" (Webster, 1828).

Obey?

"To comply with the commands, orders or instructions of a superior, or with the requirements of law, moral, political or municipal; to do that which is commanded or required, or to forbear doing that which is prohibited."

Will?

"That faculty of the mind by which we determine either to do or forbear an action" (Webster, 1828).

Commands?

"...the mandate uttered; order given" (Webster, 1828).

Laws?

"A rule, particularly an established or permanent rule, prescribed by the supreme power of a state to its subjects, for regulating their actions, particularly their social actions. Laws are imperative or mandatory, commanding what shall be done; prohibitory, restraining from what is to be forborn; or permissive, declaring what may be done without incurring a penalty. The laws which enjoin the duties of piety and morality, are prescribed by God and found in the Scriptures" (Webster, 1828).

His?

God. The object of our glory, enjoyment, love, trust, and obedience, and the source of the will, commands, and laws that mark our obedience.

SUMMARY

We praise God when we enjoy, love, trust and obey Him. Our life should be spent doing these. 

• What gives us pleasure? God and the things of God.
• By what are all our affections governed, and under what are all our affections subjected? Our love for God.
• Why can we live joyous and victorious in both times of rejoicing and times of sorrow? We trust in God.
• How do we determine our actions in this life? We obey God's will, commands, and laws as laid out in Scripture.

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch