Mission Statement: Glorifying God in his word, testimonials of faith, real stories of faith in Christ Jesus.
This is my first ever attempt to talk about faith in Jesus Christ. The influence he has on my past as well as my daily life now. I ask if you have any stories to share them by posting them! Let us celebrate his love for us by sharing our faith together.
Statement of Faith I am sinner justly deserving God's wrath upon my sinful soul, being called by his word to a saving faith, dying unto sin daily, in assurance of my lord Savior Christ Jesus. He being perfect were as I could not be, has gone before me in death and resurrection to bring me in hope on that final day, blameless to the Almighty Father and to enjoy his glorious presence praising his name forever and ever amen.
Week One:
The Glory of God
This one aim which is taught to be the chief end of man: "To glorify God and to enjoy him forever!" is found in the shorter catechisms. A beautiful and simple statement that could sum up the role of us as Christians and is the theme of God's Word through out the bible. This is the chief end of man "to glorify God and enjoy him forever!" We find this many times in the bible. God is a jealous God and will not share His Glory with another. Just look at the Psalms where David who was after the heart of God ascribes praises to God's giving emphasis on His Glory. References Psalms 50:23, 86:9. Or we see in Exodus 24; 9-17 the language of the bible describe the physical appearance of God and the image describe by his words giving him glory. Or how in Acts 7:55 Stephen, the martyred saint of Christ Jesus, in his final moments of prayer for those who were killing him, was transformed in the presence of God's Glory. This is certain that the God of Creation the Great I Am will have his glory for his purpose. If we are to Glorify Him and enjoy Him forever we had better listen to his word on how we are to do this.
We should never deny that God has for us a life of glorifying Him as Christians. Whether we acknowledge His influence or shake our prideful, fool hearty fist at him and do everything to hide from Him. But if we have that notion then we are the hamsters running around in circles. God is a jealous God and will not share his glory nor set aside his purpose for your wants and desires. Instead He is a Holy Father who is just in allowing you to wailer in your sins, so that His purposes in your selfish life would be manifested to His Glory. Just look at the warning God gives us an example with the hard heart of Pharaoh of Egypt. He would not see God's own manifested Glory (the seven plagues) displayed before him. But God used the stubborn Pharaoh to Glorify God and not Pharaoh's desires and wants. Or take the story of Jonah and the stubborn heart he had for God's purpose. God would be glorified in the end and Jonah left frustrated that the city was spared. Moreover we are fools if we think God the creator of all things can be brought to our level by our terms. We need to exam ourselves and see if we have been foolish in our hearts on who God is and how we are to worship and enjoy him in all His Glory.
I have always wrestled with God on this. I have often not glorified Him and enjoyed Him! Too many times in my life which has known not a day without his word, I have been seeking my own glory or seeking to share with someone else's glory. But I have vainly sought after the worldly pleasures experiencing many times the deserts of my lifeless faith. The sinful ambition would have left my heart callused and spiritually dead, if it was not for Christ Jesus which has put on my heart to repent and strive to die unto those sins.
Questions & Reflections:
- Do you struggle to glorify God?
- Have you wrestled with God's direction in your life?
- Are you frustrated with God and where he is directing your path?
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