The Glory Of God

6 // March 2020 by Dr. James Rushing

Dr. James Rushing pastors Temple Baptist Church of Chattanooga. He and his wife, Lynda, have two adult children, a daughter-in-law, and one grandson. About The Author 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

There is a tendency to become nonchalant with the familiar. It is easy to quote familiar passages of Scripture without considering their meaning. I found myself looking at a familiar phrase that gave me pause—“the glory of God.” Most believers are familiar with the phrase, but do we know what that means?

“Glory” comes from Latin, and its definition includes the word “renown.” A person of renown has widespread fame for a title they possess or an accomplishment they have achieved. “Renown” literally means to rename. In sports, it might be a person’s name followed by “world champion” or a nickname given because of some incredible feat: Michael “Air” Jordan, renowned for his high-flying dunks, and Karl “The Mailman” Malone, “Tiger” Woods, and “The Iron Horse” Lou Gehrig.

What does it mean to “rename” God? We’d better begin at the beginning. In the beginning, “God” created the heavens and the earth. We are first introduced to “the living God.”

After Abraham and Sarah felt they should “help” God with His plan through Hagar and the birth of Ishmael, God appeared to Abraham (Genesis 17:1) and was renamed (glorified) as “the all-sufficient God”: the God Who does not need me to try to accomplish His plan my way.

God sent Abraham to Moriah with instructions to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). When God provided a ram instead, Abraham “renamed” (glorified) Him as “the God Who provides.” All throughout the Old Testament, we read how God was renamed (“glorified”) through circumstances in which He made Himself known. He was renamed (glorified) as the “Lord Who heals,” “the Lord, my banner,” and “the Lord, my Shepherd.”

In real-life circumstances, God made Himself known in personal ways that led to a greater understanding of Who He was.

John 11:4: “When Jesus heard that [Lazarus was sick], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

Lazarus’ sickness (and death) was intended to allow Jesus to be renamed. Mary and Martha had already renamed (glorified) Jesus as “the healer.” Jesus tarried and Lazarus died so that Jesus could be glorified (renamed) as “the resurrection and the Life.” “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” In every situation of life, in every circumstance I face, in my struggles and successes, God wants to be glorified with a new name. That deepens my relationship and faith in Him and points others to Him as the answer to their needs.

John 11:45: “Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.” Even when I do not understand why God allows a difficulty in my life, I can be confident in what He wants to accomplish through it. God wants to be glorified.

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