23 Sep Living to the Glory of God
Last Sunday, Pastor Jeremy Chasteen preached the sermon: “Protect the Truth,” from Titus 1:9-16, and exhorted us to beware of opposition, correct false teaching, and live the truth of God’s Word.
Read: Titus 2:1-10
This Sunday, Pastor Jason Finley will preach from Titus 2:1-10, and we will consider the truth: Because our lives can muddy the message we profess, we need grace. As you prepare for our Sunday gathering, be encouraged by this devotional from John MacArthur to live to the glory of God.
Reflect: “Living to the Glory of God”
God chose us “to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in [His beloved Son]” (Eph. 1:6).
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You were created to glorify God.
Henry Martyn, an Englishman, served as a missionary in India and Persia in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Upon his arrival in Calcutta he cried out, “Let me burn out for God.” As he watched the people prostrating themselves before their pagan idols and heard blasphemy uttered against Christ, he wrote, “This excited more horror in me than I can well express. … I could not endure existence if Jesus was not glorified; it would be hell to me, if He were to be always thus dishonored” (John Stott, Our Guilty Silence[Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1967], pp. 21, 22).
Martyn had a passion for God’s glory—and he was in good company. Angels glorify God (Luke 2:14), as do the heavens (Ps. 19:1) and even animals (Isa. 43:20). But as a believer, you glorify God in a unique way because you are a testimony to His redeeming grace.
You were created for the purpose of glorifying God—even in the most mundane activities of life, such as eating and drinking (1 Cor. 10:31). You are to flee immorality so you can glorify God in your body (1 Cor. 6:18–20). You are to walk worthy of your calling, so “that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified” (2 Thess. 1:12).
Glorifying God is an enormous privilege and an awesome responsibility. When others see His character on display in your life, it reminds them of His power, goodness, and grace. But when they don’t, God is dishonored, and His character is called into question.
Aim your life at God’s glory; make it the standard by which you evaluate everything you do.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank the Lord for the privilege of glorifying Him. ✧ Ask Him to show you any areas of your life that do not honor Him. ✧ Find a trusted Christian friend who will pray with you and hold you accountable for the areas in which you know you need to change.
For Further Study: Read Exodus 33:12–34:9. ✧ What did Moses request? ✧ What was God’s response, and what does this teach us about His glory?
“Living to the Glory of God,” January 10th Devotional, in Drawing Near, by John MacArthur
Sing: Song List for Sunday
1. “Oh, How Good It Is,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty
2. “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Arr. Matt Boswell
3. “Holy Spirit,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty
4. “O Church Arise,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty