"O magnify the LORD with me, and lets us exalt His name together." (Psalm 34:3, NKJV)
As believers we are to glorify God. Most people do not understand what the glory of God is and most do not know what it means to glorify God.
When the Scriptures speak of God's glory they are referring to His nature and His character. The Scriptures refer to attributes.We know from Scripture that God is "glorious," majestic, and resplendent.
What does 1 Corinthians 10:31 (as well as other references) actually mean? First, we can not add to God's glory or character. He is as glorious as He ever will be. There is nothing that we can do that brings glory or supplies glory to God. Secondly, and conversely, there is nothing we can do to diminish God's glory. He never "looses" any glory. We can not take away glory from God regardless of our attitude, address or actions.
When the Scriptures tell us or actually command us to "glorify" God, they are telling us to magnify, clarify, and/or amplify the various attributes of God's character and nature.
We are to make His character, His attributes known to people around us. We are to "blow them up" in such away to make them discernible to those whom we come into contact. We are to make God's attributes clear and understandable to everyone we come into contact with.
Even something as mundane as eating dinner or drinking a glass of wine is to be used to magnify, clarify, or amplify the various attributes of God.
For example, as we prepare to eat or drink it is customary to give thanks. This is not to make the food taste better or to ensure that we won't need someone to perform the Heimlich maneuver on us.
The giving of thanks proceeds from a grateful heart and becomes an occasion to magnify certain aspects of God's character.
As believers we are to glorify God. Most people do not understand what the glory of God is and most do not know what it means to glorify God.
When the Scriptures speak of God's glory they are referring to His nature and His character. The Scriptures refer to attributes.We know from Scripture that God is "glorious," majestic, and resplendent.
What does 1 Corinthians 10:31 (as well as other references) actually mean? First, we can not add to God's glory or character. He is as glorious as He ever will be. There is nothing that we can do that brings glory or supplies glory to God. Secondly, and conversely, there is nothing we can do to diminish God's glory. He never "looses" any glory. We can not take away glory from God regardless of our attitude, address or actions.
When the Scriptures tell us or actually command us to "glorify" God, they are telling us to magnify, clarify, and/or amplify the various attributes of God's character and nature.
We are to make His character, His attributes known to people around us. We are to "blow them up" in such away to make them discernible to those whom we come into contact. We are to make God's attributes clear and understandable to everyone we come into contact with.
Even something as mundane as eating dinner or drinking a glass of wine is to be used to magnify, clarify, or amplify the various attributes of God.
For example, as we prepare to eat or drink it is customary to give thanks. This is not to make the food taste better or to ensure that we won't need someone to perform the Heimlich maneuver on us.
The giving of thanks proceeds from a grateful heart and becomes an occasion to magnify certain aspects of God's character.
- God is a provider for His people
- God is good and gracious
- God is merciful to provide what we need
- God is a giver
- God is loving
These are various attributes of God's character that can be made clear and made much of to those who maybe eating with us. Thus we have "glorified" God with even our eating and drinking.
So, David calls the congregation to magnify God and to exalt, or lift Him up as honored and visible. I call you this today to join me in making known some attributes of God's glorious, majestic, and resplendent character!
Will you join me!
3 comments:
I certainly will join you Gregg.
Thanks for your comment, much appreciated.
Yvonne.
Having in my past the false worship of the SDA church, Mormonism, and then the satanic new age movement stuff, I constantly ask for the Lord to worship Him in a way that is not feigned worship...to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
Thanks for these great thoughts. We magnify the Lord so that others will know and see the truth and be drawn to Him, and be drawn by Him. :)
Yvonne - Thanks! You are always great company!
Susan - You are welcome. Yes, we make known his attributes that some may be attracted to Him!
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