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I told my coworker that my purpose in life is to glorify God. He said, “So does that mean just singing in church?” How do I answer him?
There are so many choices you can make to glorify God in your life.
Worship using God’s Word
You glorify God by growing in his Word and worshiping him.
Imagine that a world-class chef is preparing your favorite meal. All day long he is making everything from scratch, and you are salivating. Finally, the chef gives you a single bite—it is the best thing you’ve ever eaten! Would you stop eating? No! Once you’ve tasted how good it is, you will, of course, want more!
The same is true once you have tasted how good God’s love and forgiveness are in the Bible. Peter tells you to keep growing in your faith “now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:3). This leads to glorifying God in worship! “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16).
Worship offering your whole body
When you are constantly reminded of God’s grace to you, it will lead you to glorify him with your whole life in other ways. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” In other words, every moment of every day is an opportunity to serve and therefore is another way to glorify God and worship him.
And God uses your life of service. Jesus says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). The loudest sermon you may ever preach to those around you is the way you live. You glorify God when you live differently and show “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23). Others will notice. This often will give you a chance to explain that you live your life out of thanks for all that Jesus has done for you.
The best way to glorify God
With all the choices you can make to glorify God in your life, how do you know which is the right one?
One Christian teacher explained it this way. He said, “Every day is Christmas for God.” Here is what he meant. What if your child wants to get you a Christmas present, and he goes to the store to pick one out. When he gets there, he sees two presents he thinks you will like. After weighing the options, he picks one, wraps it up, and gives it to you for Christmas. When you open it, what are you going to say? “It’s perfect! I love it!” But what if he had picked the other gift? You would say the same thing: “It’s perfect! I love it!” Either option is good because your child was doing something out of love for you.
The same is true with God. Every day is Christmas for God. He cannot wait to see which option you will pick. And the one you pick will be the one he blesses . . . either way. “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Have a question, ask it here!
Author: David Scharf
Volume 109, Number 12
Issue: December 2022
- Q&A: What would Jesus think about all the different Christian denominations?
- Q&A: Are there times when it is okay to lie?
- Q&A: What advice does the Bible have for single people?
- Q&A: How do I know I am elected by God?
- Q&A: Why is Pontius Pilate immortalized in our creeds?
- Q&A: How does remembering my baptism help with the guilt I carry?
- Q&A: Do parts of the Bible teach works righteousness?
- Q&A: How can I overcome my struggle with lust and pornography?
- Q&A: How should I help my child struggling with same-sex attraction?
- Q&A: Should Christians pray to saints?
- Q&A: Is anger sinful?
- Q&A: How can parents encourage adult children who wander from the faith?
- Q&A: Does the doxology belong in the Lord’s Prayer?
- Q&A: Is God fair?
- Q&A: When we pray, “Your kingdom come,” what are we praying for?
- Q&A: How can I better manage what God has given me this year so that I glorify him?
- Q&A: What are ways to glorify God besides singing in church?
- Q&A: I have no special gifts, and I mess up all the time. Does God really need me?
- Q&A: How do I overcome the feeling that my life has no purpose and I don’t make a difference?
- Q&A: My friend died and was not a professing Christian. What do I say to the family?
- Q&A: How can my mother and I forgive my father for being unfaithful and causing my parents to divorce?
- Q&A: Why were demon possession, gifts of healing, and gifts of tongues more prevalent in biblical times?
- Q&A: Is Christianity the only religion that gives the certainty of heaven?
- Q&A: If people go to hell, isn’t it their fault because God gave them free will and they rejected him?
- Q&A: Why are the 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension important for the disciples and for us?
- Q&A: Can you explain Jesus’ words to the wailing women he met on his way to be crucified?
- Q&A: What if spouses don’t “love” each other anymore?
- Q&A: Is it wrong to have a cross with Jesus’ body on it?
- Q&A: Is our time of grace really unchangeable?
- Q&A: I know that we are saved by grace apart from works, but how can it be that easy?
- Q&A: Are there degrees of glory in heaven as a reward for good works?
- Q&A: Do Lutherans take the Bible literally and teach millennialism?
- Q&A: Are there different interpretations of the Bible?
- Q&A: How can we be sure the Bible includes what God originally gave us?
- Q&A: Why does it seem like Christianity is so negative?
- Q&A: How can I explain how Jesus’ resurrection is possible and if the Bible is reliable?
- Q&A: Is it okay to live together if we are planning to get married?
- Q&A: How is the Bible God’s Word?
- Q&A: Were we “created to make a difference”?
- Q&A: Am I being judgmental if I point out someone’s sin?
- Q&A: Do I need to read the Bible to have a relationship with God?
- Q&A: Can a Christian vote for a political candidate who supports abortion?
- Q&A: Does God really care?
- Q&A: Does it really matter how God made the world?
- Q&A: Does God send people to hell?
- Q&A: Is death natural?
- Q&A: How can I forgive and forget?
- Q&A: Does God help those who help themselves?
- Q&A: How can we say that the Old Testament God is the same as the New Testament God?
- Q&A: Is Jesus the only way to get to heaven?
- Q&A: Doesn’t God want me to be happy?
- Light for our path: Does God hate us?
- Light for our path: What kind of comfort can you give someone when a loved one commits suicide?
- Light for our path: What does a submissive wife in a Christian marriage look like?
- Light for our path: Is it a sin to want to die from a terminal illness?
- Light for our path: What advice can you give about applauding in church?
- Light for our path: Can you please explain Matthew 5:20?
- Light for our path: What is karma?
- Light for our path: Can the devil personally be tempting me and a lot of other people at exactly the same time?
- Light for our path: Does the word Easter refer to Ishtar, the Babylonian fertility goddess?
- Light for our path: What role does emotion play in contrition?
- Light for our path: What does the white stone in Revelation 2:17 mean?
- Light for our path: Is the cross symbol now anti-Christian?
- Light for our path: Were Joseph and Mary engaged or married when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy?
