When I was a senior at Liberty Baptist College (known now as Liberty University) I had the privilege of serving as the student body president. Because of this, one of the times my parents visited during that year I was able to honor them in front of the entire student body.
What motivated this? I had wonderful parents who were faithful and wise and loved me dearly. As a result, I trusted them fully, loved them intensely, listened to what they said, and enjoyed being with them. When a heart is moved in this direction toward someone(s), it is difficult to refrain from praising them. You just can’t help it.
The same is true of God. We discover this when Israel was preparing to go into the Promised Land. God not only reminded them of his gracious salvation, but also how they were to respond to him. In Deuteronomy 10:12-13 we read: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?” The text draws a strong connection between reverencing, loving, serving, and obeying the Lord—and to do these whole heartedly, which would imply joyously. Earlier in Deuteronomy we are reminded that this was ultimately to glorify God (4:7-8).
Our next question and answer in The New City Catechism comes to this same conclusion, when it asks, “How can we glorify God?” The answer it gives is this: “We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.
We often talk about glorifying God and yet have little idea how we do this. This answer gives content to our most important purpose.
Spend some time talking about what it means to enjoy God, love him, trust him, and obey him. Close in prayer, asking God to help you glorify him as defined here.
Joyfully Glorifying God With You,
Tom
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