You Were Made for Glory!

January 22, 2023

By Brooke Holt

The Collect: “Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (The Collect for the Third Sunday after Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer)

God created you for his glory! You love beholding glory or receiving glory because you were made for it. What gets disoriented in your life is where true glory is found. Glory begins with the Lord. He is the source of glory and the perfect display of that glory. He then reveals his glory for you to perceive and to be drawn to him.

Many people miss the Lord as the ultimate and eternal glory and cling to the temporary glory of this world. They elevate movie stars or professional athletes and consider them glorious, or far too often, humans seek glory for themselves. They compete, fight, and cling to a sense of glory and miss out on the joy of perceiving and sharing in God’s glory.

Today, the Collect prays that you would receive Jesus in his glory and that you would then follow him wholeheartedly. As Paul wrote, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). As a disciple of Jesus Christ, your call is to proclaim his glory and then display his glory in every aspect of your life. It is not seeking glory for yourself but a reflection of his glory.

As you proclaim his glory and reflect it to the world, they too will be drawn to give their lives to the Savior. Then they, too, will learn the joy and privilege of proclaiming reflecting his glory.

You were made for this glory! May you behold the glory of our risen Lord today and then become an instrument to reflect his glory to this world.

Oh Lord, open our hearts, minds, eyes, and ears. We want to see you and to faithfully respond to your call on our lives. Help us to perceive your glory and then to reflect that glory today and every day.

Reflection:

Is your heart bent towards the glory of people or created things today? If so, continue to seek the Lord, take time to behold his glory, and ask him to make your life a reflection of that glory. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

The Crucified Life small group Christian study is designed to reflect upon the Seven Last Words of Christ from the cross and what they mean for us today. Walk the road of Calvary with Jesus in order to grow closer to Him. The Crucified Life small group study examines human suffering as it is mirrored in Christ’s suffering on the cross and what His seven last words say to a hurting world. Find out incredible insights into these words as Jesus teaches us, even in death, how we can use our suffering and triumph over it for His glory. Begin your Crucified Life today.