As we move forward in the journey of our lives, we must build a foundation of knowledge about God’s Word. Heavenly Father has given us people that are gifted in helping to build up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:13(NIV) tells us that their work of helping us and our diligence to learn what they teach will continue, “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” God has done this so that our lives can be a success. This is what His Word accomplishes. It elevates our thoughts and minds so that we can imitate the nature of God and live according to the example of Christ, which is to God’s glory.
Jesus Christ taught us in John 8:32(ESV), “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We cannot be free by living a lie. There is absolutely no victory in a lie. God’s Word makes us free. He tells us in Galatians 5:1(MSG), “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” When we are stuck in life, things feel oppressive and we can’t move forward. This isn’t what God wants for us. Our commitment to apply and practice God’s Word will always yield a successful outcome, and His Word will always take us higher and propel us forward.
God glories in our success, and one of the ways we can be sure of this is by observing how the truth of His Word impacts our life. He tells us in Romans 12:2(NLT), “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” He transforms us through His Word. Studying it is how we learn God’s Will for our lives. No person that trusts in God’s Word will ever be less for doing so, because His Word changes us for the better. God does not glory in our defeat, despair, and disappointment, but this is what some people have been taught to believe. We will always live beneath our privilege when we believe the wrong knowledge about God.
John 3:16(NIV) tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Our Heavenly Father loves everyone, and He wants everyone to receive salvation. There is not one person that has ever lived that God has not loved and wanted him or her to have His best. We are here on this planet because He has allowed it, and He has given every individual the precious opportunity to accept the love of Christ into their hearts so they can become a part of God’s family. Ephesians 1:4-5(NLT) teaches, “4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
This is God’s glorious plan! He decided even before He laid the foundation of the world that He wanted human beings to be created in His image so they could become His adopted children. Ephesians 1:11(NLT) goes on to tell us, “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” He wants us to be like His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can share in God’s inheritance. This is how much God loves us!
God’s glory is magnificent beyond magnificence. Its height is unfathomable, and its weight cannot be measured. His glory is founded within Himself because He is so wonderfully perfect, loving, and powerful. No one and no thing out-shines Him. As unbelievable as it may be, through Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father has made it possible for us to share in His glory. 2Thessalonians 2:14(NLT) declares, “He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is nothing that exists that can separate us from God’s love, because He lives in us, and He has called us to His Kingdom and glory.
In Ephesians 2:10(NLT), Heavenly Father gives us a glimpse of how He sees us. It says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” God wants us to know that we are His greatest work, and we were made for His glory.
We are supposed to all grow to such an understanding so that we can have unity in the faith. God wants us to be strong, we are His masterpieces. In Ephesians 5:1, He instructs us to imitate Him in everything that we do. He wouldn’t tell us to do something that we’re not capable of doing. We can live a life filled to the brim with God’s love because He has empowered us through Jesus Christ to do so. God wants us to have faith in His empowerment. He wants us to think good thoughts, trust in Him, and rely totally on Him to back our steps. When we do this, He is sure to bless us to have good success, because this is His Will and it brings Him glory.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Glorifying God”, written for 4theChristianMan.com© 2022. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.