The Glory of God

Brief thoughts about the text/sermon:

• “Glory, hallelujah!!!”
• “Lord, just help us to bring you glory.”
• “We all sin and fall short of your glory.”
• “When the Lord comes in all his glory . . .”

“Glory” is a word that’s all over Scripture—and it’s a word we use fairly often, especially in church—but its meaning is a bit nebulous and confusing. When God’s “glory” appears, what does that look like? If we bring him “glory,” what does that mean? What exactly is his “glory”?

This is another of those words we use but probably don’t really grasp. But as it turns out, understanding “glory” helps us understand God, and it helps us understand how we relate to him.

Literally, “glory” means “heavy” and is sometimes used of heavy things (or people). From that literal meaning is derived its metaphorical meaning (important, worthy of honor) and sometimes the physical things associated with that importance (e.g., riches).

Significantly, though, God’s glory is seen in the universe that he created (“The heavens declare the glory of God . . .”). But more importantly, it’s seen in the pinnacle of his creation: you and me (he “crowned” us with “glory and honor”).

This is powerful: God created us to reflect his glory to the world. People should look at us and see the glory of God as we reflect his image.

Unfortunately, though, that image became distorted in the fall of Genesis 3, and the story of the Bible is God’s work in the world to restore that image.

That’s what he wants to do in us—conform us more and more into his image so that his glory is seen more clearly. And in a way that’s our commission when we wake up each day: Look like God so that others may see him.