Glory Be

Ephesians is full of "the glory of God." We have an inheritance "so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory" (Eph 1:12). We were sealed in Him "to the praise of His glory" (Eph 1:13-14). Paul prays "that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being" (Eph 3:16). And, of course, throughout Scripture God's glory is critical. God says, "I am YHWH; that is My name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols" (Isa 42:8). Paul wrote, "All have sinned" and then further explained the problem ... "and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). Paul told the Corinthians, "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31). But ... what is this thing called "glory"?

In Scripture the glory of God refers to the manifestation of God's character and attributes that displays His ultimate magnificence and worth. Thus, God's glory is ... all that God is, pointing to His ultimate value. If that's true, perhaps you can see how important it is. It is God on display, God being praised for Himself. And, if you understand that, then you can also see that to "fall short of His glory" is catastrophic. The highest praiseworthy Being is not receiving His just due. We have failed to recognize and value God for what He truly is. That's not minor.

David wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psa 19:1). And we miss it. We shortchange it. We minimize it. We conform it to our image and bend it to our will. And we think we're doing a good thing. Isaiah accuses us of declaring, "I will make myself like the Most High" (Isa 14:14). By minimizing God's glory, we attempt to bring Him down to our level. It's no wonder God is concerned about His glory. It's Him. He made all that is to display His glory and we try to cover it and call our efforts good. These things ought not be.