PSALM 50:14-15 – Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
THEME OF THE DAY. LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. The Christian life is impossible to live. Just read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. If we are not convinced, we will be by the end of that reading, but we really don’t need convincing. Jesus told us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). However, the Christian life, if properly understood, is not impossible to live. God has promised us all things necessary to do so and those things are in His Son, the Lord Jesus (Philippians 1:21; 2 Peter 1:3). And when it comes to living out the Christian life, all parts of it – our speech, our attitudes, our actions, and our conduct – are pointed to a single goal; the glory of God. Since that is the goal to pursue, how do we accomplish it daily? In today’s scripture, the Psalmist provides three applications directing us toward a life lived for God’s glory.
First, live in the spirit of thanksgiving for everything – Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving. There is not a day goes by that we cannot overflow with thanksgiving to God. Think about it. Did we have a warm bed to sleep in last night? Food in our refrigerators? Fresh water to bathe in and drink? Transportation to go to work or run errands? Protection while going to work or running those errands? People who love us? People who care for us? A good church to attend? The list continues. The Apostle Paul tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Do we know that one of the evidences of being filled with God’s Spirit is not some vision or experience but the giving of thanks? (Ephesians 5:20). Learn to live in the spirit of thanksgiving for it brings God glory.
The second way we live for God’s glory is striving to obey His Word – and perform your vows to the Most High. This one is easy to ignore. I am not saying we willfully disobey God but it is easy to just “do life” and neglect to obey God. Obedience never just happens. We choose to obey. We decide to put action into God’s commands. And if we are not purposeful in doing so, it won’t happen. Allow me an illustration. Here is a passage from the letter to the Hebrews that contains two commands for believers – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25). Ask ourselves the question “Are we obeying the commands to ‘stir up one another to love and good works’ and ‘to encourage one another’?” Right now, are there believers who may give testimony that we are obeying these commands? And remember, these are to be regularly obeyed. God is glorified when we “perform our vows” or obey Him. He gets no glory from our negligence and in neglecting obedience, we go against the purpose of our salvation.
Finally, our lives glorify God when we commit to a consistent prayer life with Him – and call upon me. Prayer to the Christian is to be as natural as breathing for human beings. It is prayer that seeks the face of God to not only be helped by God, but to enjoy Him. Again, ask of ourselves, “Am I a person of prayer?” Should we follow each other around for a week, would we walk away with a crystal-clear picture that we are people of prayer? I hope so. God is glorified by a praying people.
Living for God’s glory. It is why we were created and then re-created in Christ Jesus. May the Lord help us live out this glorious purpose and privilege.
PRAYER: “Father, help me keep my life simple when it comes to living for Your glory.”
QUOTE: “God didn’t make the Christian life easy, but He did make it simple.”