How Do We Glorify the Lord?

Wayne Stapleton Easter

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form [. . .] (Philippians 2:7)

Let all that I am praise the LORD;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the LORD;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The LORD gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The LORD is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103 NLT)

God is so good in his very character, and that character has expressed itself in many and various blessings.

We are forgiven for our many sins. We are healed – and healing! – in many ways. We have been saved from eternal death. We have been given love and tender mercies. We have experienced his compassion. We have benefited from his unfailing love. We have not been punished for all our sins; his wrath does not remain on us.

If we only look, we can see beauty in our lives that has come from him and only him.

God deserves all the glory, honor, and praise. How then do we glorify the Lord for all he has done and is doing and even promises to do? (For we know his promises are good.) What is our right response?

We praise him. We glorify his name. We give him honor. But not just with our lips.

 
What about our hearts? Our bodies? Our choices? How do we glorify the Lord?

By centering our lives on Jesus to respond in faith to his many gifts.

 
How do we glorify the Lord?

By loving the triune God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

 
How do we glorify the Lord?

By loving our neighbor as we do ourselves, and as we do our families.

 
How do we glorify the Lord?

By seeing Jesus not just as our Savior but as our Model, by making choices that reflect his love and character.

 
How do we glorify the Lord?

By seeing his life as not only useful for our salvation, but beautiful in its grace and mercy.

 
How do we glorify the Lord?

By purposing to have the same attitude Jesus did when he took on a body of the other for the redemption of the other.

 
How do we glorify the Lord?

By moving beyond lip-service to serve from our hearts, with our bodies, through our choices.

 
How do we glorify the Lord?

By living out the love God has shown us so those around us may know him, experience his love, and worship him full-bodied as well.

 
How do we glorify the Lord?
 
 
Wayne Stapleton is the VP of Cross-Cultural Engagement and Emerging Leader Engagement.

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