ESOCS Devotional 8 December 2024 – Glorify God in All Things
MEMORY VERSE: “If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”1 Peter 4:11 KJV
TEXT: I PETER 4:1-11
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 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.
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The word “glorify” means to praise, honour, or admiration. For anyone who has ever been born into this world – is to glorify God. That is what living is all about. Glorifying God is the end result of the Christian life. Spiritual maturity is simply concentrating and focusing on the person of God until we are caught up in His majesty and His glory.
We can fulfil the purpose of giving all glory to God, which is the very reason we are made. We are image-bearers of the Almighty God. We are created to bring glory to Him, to honour Him, to praise His glorious name, to thank Him for His abundance in our lives and to praise Him for His abundant grace, the riches of His love, His splendour and majesty; and a God who is righteous and just and having power in His name that we may come to Him in reverence and awe. This is the very purpose of man – to glorify God in every way.
We glorify God when, out of love for Him, we lay down our rights, our freedom, in eating or drinking or whatever, in order to do what is most loving toward others, either for the “progress and joy [of their] faith” (Philippians 1:25), or that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 9:22).
God also gets glory when people are redeemed. He is glorified when Satan’s prison is broken open and men and women are turned loose from the power of the evil one. People are saved from their sins in order to give God glory. So, the more people who get converted, the more thanksgiving is going on, and the more there are in the choir singing, “Hallelujah!” (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Apostle Peter reminds us of the old man, our old lifestyles and how Christ has suffered for us in the flesh and has paid the ultimate price of death for us so that we will not have to suffer anymore. He urges us to have the same mind as Christ and encourages us to use whatever gift we have, with all the strength God gives us, to serve others. While he surely did not mean to limit this service to fellow Christians, his focus is on service to our brothers and sisters in Christ. He commands his readers to love “each other” and to be hospitable “to one another” (1 Pet. 4:8–9). God is glorified by our wholehearted service to others, and especially by our service to fellow believers.
Furthermore, we are warned that the end of all things is at hand; therefore, let us be sober and constantly be watchful in the place of prayer (1 Peter 4:7), for by this act will we be able to give glory to God through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.
- Assess yourself. Have all your kingdom efforts been geared towards glorifying God?
- Lord Jesus, may all I do here on earth bring glory to your Mighty name. Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 3:1–8; Zechariah 8:9–11; Romans 15:23–end
ESOCS Devotional 8 December 2024
