When God’s Glory Becomes Your Joy
The way we think about God pursuing his glory can either put distance between us and God or it can be the best news in the world for us. When we read The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9, we see that the first thing is almost a directive to God to make sure his name is lifted up and seen as holy and glorious. That first and foremost, God would glorify His name.
This is often a problem for us because it's natural to think that we should be God's highest priority. And if God is most concerned about his own Glory, I'm not on top.
If this is a struggle for you, you might ask a simple question, "Who should be at the center of God's effort and focus?" If we're honest we might respond, "Me." But we also know that then we would be self-centered and prideful and arrogant.
It's natural to want God to worship his creation, that puts us at the top of everything. But then we're suggesting that God should be like an artist who worships her creation. There is no one higher.
In Revelation 5:13 and Revelation 7:12 we get a picture of our eternal existence with all creation overflowing with praise to the One who sits on the throne. Do you think anyone there will resent that and say, "Hey, Hey, Hey, you should be praising me!"
Here's the thing. Not only is God putting his glory first the right thing to do, God's pursuit of His glory is also the most loving and wonderful thing he could do for us.
At the cross Jesus did the unimaginable. He came into time and in weakness took our sin upon himself. He took our consequences so we could be forgiven and so we could move from being God's enemy to being God's friend. The cross is the central event of human history that magnifies God and lifts him up as the killer of sin and the loving father of sinners.
In other words, in God seeking to display his glory, I am saved. If God is second, I am lost.
The Gospel Coalition wrote this as part of their understanding of God's glory. They wrote, "In saving a people for himself, God displays his grace, and in displaying his grace he brings glory to himself. … God receives glory and, through uniting his people to Christ, shares his glory with them."
One of the things that should flow from this is the idea that God is eager to save and eager to forgive because that magnifies his name and brings Him glory. Many see God as a difficult taskmaster. We really need to shift our thinking here. Jesus came to find and save the weak, and not condemn them or sit them down in front of another checklist of things they must do if they want his love.
Jesus, you are the only one who can save and you are glorious because of it. I'm sorry for thinking you're small when I can't even imagine how wonderful you really are. Thank you for loving us even though we don't respond the way we should. Please open my eyes to your beauty.
“Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:3)
Song: King of Kings