Friday, September 21, 2007 at 12:12am
Living for His glory
Column: For His Glory
My column is called "For His Glory." Have you stopped to ponder what this really means? "For His glory" is an expression used in religious circles when individuals or congregations talk about actions that they wish would honor God. I am using it in the same manner. My desire is that every article I write would somehow draw mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives and children closer to God. I have written about hurting wives and hurting parents. I have written about the second coming and the antichrist. I have written about the power of prayer and the lives of the unsaved. I have received some wonderful responses, and I give God all the Glory. So I ask myself: How far am I willing to go to give God the glory? How far are you willing to go to give God the glory?
It is easy to give God the glory when things are positive and going well. But are you ready to give God the glory when things are not going your way? When your husband leaves you for another woman, are you prepared to give God the glory then? What about when your child is hung up on drugs after his second rehab stint? Can you praise God under that scenario? Let me be direct and ask you: Can you give God the glory when you are suffering? Or do you only give God the glory in good times?
There is only one answer that should be expressed in our lives which truly brings God glory, and that is faith in Him in the midst of our suffering. If we let circumstances change our love for God, then we have yet to know how deep, how wide, how high is the love of God in our lives. Our lives should praise God, no matter what life may throw at us. It is truly for His glory when even in the middle of suffering someone still hangs on to God. When you think of Joseph, who was unjustly thrown in prison and yet still clung to God, that's a life that truly brings God glory. When the three Jewish boys in the book of Daniel would rather die than betray God, that brings God glory. When Job lost all of his wealth and children, how did he respond? He responded by worshiping God, not pouting or cursing God. His worship in suffering brings God glory.
"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship" (Job 1:20).
So how do you respond when things do not go your way? Are you willing to trust God, even when you do not perceive His blessings? How far are you willing to suffer in order to bring Him glory? Or is suffering not in your equation? Are you willing to give Him the glory even in death, even if He kills you? If you know Him, you will. Listen to what Job said even when he was suffering severely:
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15). That is faith. May your faith grow to the point that circumstances do not change your love for God, that even in the middle of the storm you can give Him the glory. For it was in the depths of suffering that Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, paid the ultimate tribute of Glory to God. Jesus suffered so that you can live. Hence my prayer is that you live a life that glorifies God under any circumstances.
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Gio Marin is an author, currently working on a master of divinity degree at Andrews Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. Visit For His Glory, the blog, and send an email to {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@ aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Gio Marin.
It is easy to give God the glory when things are positive and going well. But are you ready to give God the glory when things are not going your way? When your husband leaves you for another woman, are you prepared to give God the glory then? What about when your child is hung up on drugs after his second rehab stint? Can you praise God under that scenario? Let me be direct and ask you: Can you give God the glory when you are suffering? Or do you only give God the glory in good times?
There is only one answer that should be expressed in our lives which truly brings God glory, and that is faith in Him in the midst of our suffering. If we let circumstances change our love for God, then we have yet to know how deep, how wide, how high is the love of God in our lives. Our lives should praise God, no matter what life may throw at us. It is truly for His glory when even in the middle of suffering someone still hangs on to God. When you think of Joseph, who was unjustly thrown in prison and yet still clung to God, that's a life that truly brings God glory. When the three Jewish boys in the book of Daniel would rather die than betray God, that brings God glory. When Job lost all of his wealth and children, how did he respond? He responded by worshiping God, not pouting or cursing God. His worship in suffering brings God glory.
"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship" (Job 1:20).
So how do you respond when things do not go your way? Are you willing to trust God, even when you do not perceive His blessings? How far are you willing to suffer in order to bring Him glory? Or is suffering not in your equation? Are you willing to give Him the glory even in death, even if He kills you? If you know Him, you will. Listen to what Job said even when he was suffering severely:
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15). That is faith. May your faith grow to the point that circumstances do not change your love for God, that even in the middle of the storm you can give Him the glory. For it was in the depths of suffering that Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, paid the ultimate tribute of Glory to God. Jesus suffered so that you can live. Hence my prayer is that you live a life that glorifies God under any circumstances.
— — —
Gio Marin is an author, currently working on a master of divinity degree at Andrews Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. Visit For His Glory, the blog, and send an email to {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@ aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Gio Marin.