It’s all for Him. The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. It is the reason for everything that exists, including you. God made it all for His glory.

What is the glory of God? It is who God is. It is the essence of His nature, the weight of His importance, the radiance of His splendor, the demonstration of His power, and the atmosphere of His presence. God’s glory is the expression of His goodness and all His other intrinsic, eternal qualities.

Where is the glory of God? Just look around. Everything created by God reflects His glory in some way. We see it everywhere, from the smallest microscopic form of life to the vast Milky Way, from sunsets and stars to storms and seasons. Creation reveals our Creator’s glory. In nature we learn that God is powerful, that He enjoys variety, loves beauty, is organized, and is wise and creative. The Bible says in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship” (NLT).

God’s glory has been revealed to people in different settings throughout time. He revealed it first in the Garden of Eden, then to Moses, then in the tabernacle and the temple, then through Jesus, and now through the church.

God’s glory is best seen in Jesus Christ. He, the Light of the world, illuminates God’s nature. Because of Jesus, we are no longer in the dark about what God is really like. The Bible says in Hebrews 1:3 “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God” (NLT). Jesus came to earth so we could fully understand God’s glory. John 1:14 says, “So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (NLT).

God’s glory is inherent. It is His nature. We cannot add anything to this glory, just as it would be impossible for us to make the sun shine brighter. But we are commanded to recognize His glory, honor His glory, declare His glory, praise His glory, reflect His glory, and live for His glory. Why? Because God deserves it! We owe Him every honor we can possibly give. Since God made all things, He deserves all the glory. The Bible says in Revelation 4:11, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you crated all things…” (NLT).

In the entire universe, only two of God’s creations fail to bring glory to Him: fallen angels (demons) and us (people). All sin, at its root, is failing to give God glory. It is loving anything else more than God. Refusing to bring glory to God is prideful rebellion, and it is the sin that caused Satan’s fall – and ours, too. In different ways we have all lived for our own glory, not God’s. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (NIV 84).

So the big question for today is, “How can I bring glory to God?” When anything in creation fulfills its purpose, it brings glory to God. Birds bring glory to God by flying, chirping, nesting, and doing other bird-like activities that God intended. Even the ant brings glory to God when it fulfills the purpose it was created for. God made ants to be ants, and He made you to be you.

There are many ways to bring glory to God, but let me mention a few for you.

We glorify God by worshiping Him

First, we can glorify God by worshiping Him. Worship is our first responsibility to God. We worship God by enjoying Him. C.S. Lewis said, “In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.” God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving, and delight, not duty.

John Piper once said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Worship is far more than praising, singing, and praying to God. Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving God, and giving ourselves to be used for His purposes. When you use your life for God’s glory, everything you do can become an act of worship. The Bible says in Romans 6:13, “… use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God” (NLT).

We glorify God by loving other believers

Number two, we can glorify God by loving other believers. When you were born again, you became a part of God’s family. Following Christ is not just a matter of believing; it also includes belonging and learning to love the family of God. We are told in 1 John 3:14, “If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life” (NLT). Then in Romans 15:7 we are told, “…accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (NLT).

It is your responsibility to learn how to love as God does, because God is love, and it honors Him. Jesus said, “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35, NLT).

We glorify God by growing spiritually

We can glorify God by worshiping Him. We can glorify God by loving other believers. And number three, we can glorify God by growing spiritually. As we become more and more like Jesus we glorify our Heavenly Father more and more. Once we are born into God’s family, He wants us to grow to spiritual maturity. What does that look like? Spiritual growth is becoming like Jesus in the way we think, feel, and act. The more you develop Christ-like character, the more you will bring glory to God. The Bile says in 2 Corinthians 3, “So all of us who have had that veil removed [became a follower of Jesus, born again] can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image” (v.18, NLT).

God gave you a new life and a new nature when you accepted Christ. Now, for the rest of your life on earth, God wants to continue the process of changing your character. The Bible says in Philippians 1:11, “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God” (NLT).

We glorify God by serving others

Number four, we can glorify God by serving others. Each of us was uniquely designed by God with talents, gifts, skills, and abilities. The way you are “wired” is not an accident. God didn’t give you your abilities for selfish purposes. They were given to benefit others, just as others were given abilities for your benefit. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4, “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another…. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ” (vs. 10-11, NLT).

We glorify God by telling others about Him

Number five, we can glorify God by telling others about Him. God does not want His love and mission kept a secret. Once we know the truth, God expects us to share it with others. This is a great privilege – introducing others to Jesus, helping them discover their purpose, and preparing them for their eternal destiny. Listen carefully to 2 Corinthians 4:15, “As God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory” (NLT).

Our target audience will be those who do not know Christ yet and those who are believers but are not connected to a local church. 70% of Audrain County is classified as unchurched, we are wanting to reach that 70%.

  • You can reach part of that 70% through your personal relationships. Telling them about Jesus, sharing your story of how God saved you, and inviting them to attend Genesis Church.
  • You can also help reach part of that 70% in the future as we become more settled and organized as a church body we will offer opportunities to connect with more and more of those who need Jesus and a church family.

Wrap it up

Living the rest of your life for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, and everything else. It will sometimes mean choosing a difficult path instead of an easy one. Even Jesus struggled with this. Knowing He was about to be crucified, Jesus cried out praying, “My soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to Your name” (John 12:27, NLT).