So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Dear Lord Jesus,
You created me to treasure and live for the glory of God above all things. The very purpose for which You created me was to bring You glory in everything I do. The light of Your glory was made to shine at the center of my life; of my heart, mind, and soul. Your glory is never to be secondary to anything else in my life, but Your glory is to be the absolute focus in everything I do, say, and think. When Your glory is replaced by anything else, or when I put myself or anything else above Your glory, my life becomes disordered, and my peace and joy are lost. There are so many lost and confused people in this world because they don’t want to know the glory of God or live their lives for Him. The healing of our hearts only begins by re-establishing the glory of God to where it's meant to be. Jesus is meant to be at the center of our lives, every single day.
Starved for the Glory of God
People are severely lacking in the glory of God. People are not lacking in self-love like most of this world promotes and endlessly chases in vain. See, no one goes out into nature or watches a sunset to boost their self-esteem. Why do we love nature and sunsets? We love those things because deep down we know there is a far greater and deeper healing for our souls when we regard one of God’s magnificent creations. We can never find that level of splendor or awe when we look within ourselves. It's only when we look outside of ourselves that we behold such healing and joy through the blessed hope of Jesus Christ. If self is the problem, self cannot also be the answer at the same time. We will only find darkness when we look within ourselves. We must look to the light, and that glorious light is Jesus Christ.
What could be more absurd inside this wondrous and vast universe than a person, a tiny speck in this universe, who peers into the mirror and strives to find significance, honor, and glory in his own self-image? Unfortunately, this is the gospel of the modern world and all the false religions which have deceived billions of people. Satan will do anything to get us to stop focusing on Christ and Scripture and place our focus on ourselves and worldliness - because Satan’s ultimate deception is blinding us with our own pride, which is the root of all sin. He wants to get us to focus on self, the elevation of self, and to rely on self as the agent that brings peace and tranquility, over focusing on the only real thing that brings peace and tranquility, and that is Jesus Christ. The enemy wants us to put ourselves and our feelings at the center of our thoughts and lives, over the glory of God; the only thing that brings any of us true joy and peace.
Living For the Glory of God
The pure Gospel is “the Gospel of the glory of Christ” because its final goal is that we would live for the glory of Christ and glorify Him in absolute gratitude for all eternity because of what He did for us. See, what could ever bring more joy and healing to our souls than what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross?! For the glory of Christ is the same exact same thing as the glory of God because Jesus Christ is God. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” (Hebrews 1:3). “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Furthermore, The light of the gospel is the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4), and when the light of the gospel shines into our hearts, it is “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Finally, when we “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2), that hope is Jesus who is our blessed and only hope! “our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).
"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." - John Piper
All glory belongs to You, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Love,
Jenna
Devotion is inspired by John Piper's "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ."
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelation 21:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:3
Entertainment is the devil’s substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord, the less entertainment you need. - Leonard Ravenhill.
Comments