Joyelle Elizabeth Bull January 19, 2009
Exalt HIS Name
When you are a Christian you have some responsibilities. They are in the 10 commandments, the beatitudes, the creeds, along with many other places found in and out of the bible. One other thing I didn't mention was the confessions. The first question of the Westminster Confession is (1) "What is the chief and highest end of man?" Which means what is the purpose of man? The answer is this: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.". Those are two more responsibilities of Christians.
Glorifying GOD is doing things that magnify Him. When we go to the grocery store we need to glorify GOD. We need to live our lives to reflect CHRIST. He set an example when He was on earth. He said, "(2)If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.". (3)Dictionary.com says to follow is to, " to accept as a guide or leader", or to," to conform to...". JESUS tells us to conform to Him conform means to "become similar in ... nature". Our nature is to be similar to CHRIST's even more than that it is to be exactly like CHRIST's, He lived a perfect sinless life. We can never fulfill that calling. That is why JESUS came to die. Now GOD looks at our lives and sees CHRIST's.
We were created for one purpose, to glorify GOD. That's it, Colossians 1:16 tells us, "(4)For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible ... all things were created through Him and for Him.". He created us for Himself. Sole comes from the Latin word solus meaning alone, only, or the only. The only reason we were created is to glorify GOD with every breath we take. When GOD created man He said "It was very good". All the other things were "good". Also when GOD created man he formed him in His image! All the other things were spoken into existence. We were created special but man fell and GOD chose only some of us for CHRIST to die for.
We were chose by GOD. Paul writes to the Ephesians, "(5)Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through JESUS CHRIST, according to the purpose of His will.". John 3:16,17 relates "(6)For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.". JESUS came to die for His chosen few. He picked us before the world was created thousands of years ago. If the earth is 5,000 years old and you lived to be 80 years old you would have to live 62 ½ times to be as old as the earth. He picked us that long ago.
We were created and chosen to glorify GOD. We glorify GOD by leading a pious life. Again Paul is writing, this time to Philippi, he tells them, "(7)Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" he goes on to say, "practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.". We are called to not only fill our minds with these things but also to live them out. JESUS tells us, "(8)So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.".
GOD is so great even that mountains crumble at His sight. Nahum 1:5 tells us, " (9)The mountains quake before Him and the hills melt away". Even the sinless angels cover themselves in the presence of GOD. Isaiah 2:6 says, speaking of angels, "... (10)each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces and with two they covered their feet...". Yet we, sinful and vile creatures, are allowed into the presence of the all mighty GOD! Now that is a reason to glorify GOD, in everything we do. Like to catechism says we are to glorify GOD.
The second part of the Westminster catechism's first question is, "(10)to enjoy Him forever". When you think of enjoy you might think of sitting by a warm fire at Christmas time, or cuddling up on a window seat with the warm summer afternoon sun pouring down on you and your favorite book, or maybe even going to Disneyland and riding the Manahorn. The doctoral definition for enjoy is to, "(11)have benefit from", or to, "take delight in". We can take delight in all those things but to glorify GOD we must take delight in Him and receive His benefits.
We need to enjoy GOD by trusting. Luke tells us to "(12)See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how GOD clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ". GOD provided everything for us so we need to praise Him. We can rejoice in the fact that the flowers are clothed and we need to rejoice in the fact that everything that we have was given to us by GOD. When we doubt our previsions we are doubting GOD, He knows what is best for us.
We are called to praise GOD, even when we think GOD should have made our sorrow and pain stop. A band called Casting Crowns wrote a song called "Praise You in this Storm". Here is an excerpt from the song
(13)I was sure by now, God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I love this song because it tells of a man glorifying GOD in a storm. We need to praise GOD because He is holy and we are not. He is the only object that deserves worship. We need to keep trusting in GOD even when we think that there could be no way that this could be used for anything. "(14)For your thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are your ways my ways" declares the Lord.
We are to look forward to future enjoyment and glory. To be in heaven and to see GOD is the reason we are here on earth. But we must be like Paul, willing to which ever one is the will of GOD. "(15)For me to live is CHRIST but to die is gain". This is the best way to enjoy GOD. We have no idea what heaven will be like. In the bible it tells of streets of gold. We know it will be much better because all we will have is to worship GOD. We also know that, "(16)He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore". That verse comes from Revelation 21:4
"(17)O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.". That was from Psalm 34 written by king David. We can lean from David how to enjoy GOD. He poetically speaks the words, "my soul thirst for you, my body longs for you". We need to thirst and long for GOD this I shoe you enjoy GOD, by earnestly wanting to magnify Him in everything you do.
We as Christians do have responsibilities but they are definitely worth it when we think of the benefits of being a Christian. We are to enjoy GOD in glorifying Him. And in glorifying him we should enjoy Him. So as it says in Psalm 34:3 "(18)Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together."
1. Westminster Catechism
2. Matthew 16:24
3. Dictionary.com
4. Bible Gateway.com
5. ibid.
6. ibid.
7. ibid.
8. ibid.
9. ibid.
10. ibid.
11. Dictionary.com
12. Bible Gateway.com
13. "Praise You In This Storm" Casting Crowns
14. Bible Gateway.com
15. ibid.
16. ibid.
17. ibid.
18. ibid.
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