Not
only are we to glorify God in our body which has become the temple of the Holy
Spirit, but we also have to glorify God in spirit which is being manifested:
a.
Through
praise
For we have been admonished
saying; “Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and
there be none to deliver: Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who
orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God." We glorify
God in spirit; through the inward man by continually offering the sacrifice of
praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name, and
allowing the word of Christ to dwell in us richly in all wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Psalms 50:22-23;
Hebrews 13:15; Colossians 3:16).
We
glorify the Lord in spirit when we present ourselves before Him at His
appointed times and adhering to the protocol which states: “Give to the LORD, O
families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD
the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh,
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say
among the nations, "The LORD reigns; the world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously" (1
Chronicles 16:28-31;
Psalms
96: 7-10).
We
glorify God by being productive as stated by Jesus Who said; “If you abide in
Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be
done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you
will be My disciples” (John 15:7-8).
We
glorify God by rendering excellent quality service as we have been duly
admonished saying; “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If
anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in
all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and
the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Peter 4:11;
1Corinthians 10:31).
Last
but not least, we glorify God through suffering in the flesh and so we have
received the consolation saying; “If you are reproached for the name of Christ,
blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their
part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you
suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's
matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let
him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:14-16).
And
so, in this critical and trying times our consolation is; “Beloved, do not
think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of
Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with
exceeding joy” (1Peter 4:12-13).
With this pandemic the faith of
every believer is on trial, but in this we are to greatly rejoice, though now
for a little while, if need be, we have been grieved by various trials, that
the genuineness of our faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes,
though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our
outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For
our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which
are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen
are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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