Lesson 30: Joy’s glory
Philippians 4:1-23 – www.bible.com/bible/59/php.4
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
*How does your life show whom you are wanting to glorify – whether yourself or God or someone else?
What does it mean to glorify God? In Colossians 3:17 we read, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” How do we accomplish this with our life?
Glory is the same as honor. Most of us understand very well what it means to have someone bring us shame or for us to bring shame to someone else. Our parents and family have all experienced shame because of us – and it doesn’t even need to be something big or terrible. For example, when I was a young girl, my hair would not do anything I wanted it to do. One day my older brother came home from school and insisted my mother do SOMETHING with my hair – the way I looked had brought him shame among his friends.
Bringing shame to God is never about how we look or if we are physically weak or unattractive. What brings shame to God is when we do or say something to dishonor His name. How we live can show others we do not believe God can actually keep His promises. This brings shame to His name.
If we have done something to bring shame to God, how can we change this shame and bring Him glory and honor instead? First, we confess what we have done to Him as being wrong – 1 John 1:9. We turn our back on such things, determining never to do them again – asking God to help us. But even when we fail, we must not allow our failure to bring us into despair or discouragement; instead, we must continue to stay as close to Jesus as we can, always coming back to ask for His cleansing and forgiveness. However, we must never take His forgiveness for granted – which only proves we have not truly repented.
Bringing honor and glory to God is when we trust Him, when we obey Him, when we joy in Him even though our path is surrounded by things to make us fear or hurt or angry or whatever. When we turn to God anyway, no matter the circumstance we are in, and promise to trust Him no matter what happens to us – then God receives great honor and glory. We might think there is no one around us who knows what is happening or what we have promised – but there are always those who see. Your closest friends and your family will know. They see what is happening to you, and if your response to pain or injury is the joy of trusting God, they will see even if they do not understand. This is when it is important to also be ready to TELL the reason for your joy and peace – see 1 Peter 3:15.