May 6, 2024 Glorifying God
Monday, May 6, 2024
John 17:4, 6-8, 16-19 How Do We Glorify God?
4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do…
6 “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.
16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself,
so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
John 17:4, 6-9, 16-19, NRSVUE
The Lord’s Prayer ends with the phrase, “For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.” And we often hear prayers that open meetings or events to end with the hope that our actions and decisions will glorify God. Hearing that phrase this week made me think, how exactly do we glorify God?
We can take a clue from Jesus’ prayer for his disciples and future followers as he anticipates his death and returning to the Father:
- (vs. 6) Like Jesus, we glorify God when we fulfill our purpose and complete daily assignments or tasks God gives us (using our spiritual gifts, abilities, and personality with which He created us and the resources and experiences He gives us.)
- (vs. 8) In every assignment, we “…make His name known.” Reveal and reflect His character and love to every man, woman, and child we encounter each day, even in the routines, such as buying groceries, carpooling the kids to soccer practice, dusting the furniture, or mowing the lawn.
- (vs. 8) Through every assignment, we let our thoughts, words, and deeds point to Jesus Christ as the Sent One from God and who demonstrates God’s love for the world.
- (vs. 17-19) We glorify God as we continue to grow in discipleship personally.
Reflect: Personalize Jesus’ prayer to God. Read verses 6-19 again, but this time insert your name wherever Jesus mentions the disciples, they, or them. How does this change how you approach your day and work, knowing Jesus asked God the Father to protect you and help you make His name known through all you do?
Prayer: Father-God, I surrender this day to you. Sanctify me in the truth of Your Word. Let all that I think, say, and do reflect Your love and glorify Your name. In Christ’s name and through the power of the Holy Spirit, I pray, Amen.
By His Grace,
Gloria
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