Application of God’s Glory

Our Actions or Application of God’s Glory  – The specifics of what we do to participate in glorifying God.

Practical Listing:

  1. Look to discover God in life.
  2. Meditate on the attributes of God.
  3. Fix eyes on Christ.
  4. Consider the goal of activities.
  5. Know the variety of expressions of God’s glory.

Consider it is God who places a person in a situation – rich or poor – health or sickness – great advantage or scanty means. A person does God’s will by living in the place God has ordained, daily labor, working cheerfully, humbly, thankful for success, having a devoted mind, trusting in His support; all having regard to God’s appointment, God’s assignment and God’s prescription of duty.—ideas from John Venn.

The exhortation to do all things for the glory of God. This is a rule which applies to everything, great and small.—Charles Hodge.

  1. To the choice of a profession. The question should be, how can I accomplish most in bringing men to glorify God?
  2. In determining where we are to labor.
  3. In deciding on the distribution and occupation of our time.
  4. In determining our outward conduct towards others, our conformity to the world.
  5. In deciding on the thoughts, feelings and purposes, the tempers and dispositions of mind, which we shall cherish.
  6. In the way we bear reproach, inferiority, neglect, sickness, injuries, etc. In short, it is a simple, comprehensive, universal rule.

Seek the Knowledge of God

“Therefore, in all things, in all your readings, meditations, prayers, intercourse with others, and acts of obedience in outward conduct, aim more and more to be discovering him who is unsearchable, and more clearly to be perceiving him who is invisible; that, having knowledge for yourself, you may in temper, spirit, word and action, be instrumental in revealing that knowledge to your fellow-men.”—Henry Craig from Subserviency to the Divine Glory.

Extend the Knowledge of the Attributes, Acts and Character of God

“Those who desire to extend the glory of such persons, effect their object by extending the knowledge of what has been accomplished by the subjects of their admiration; and in proportion to the degree of manifestation, is the amount of glory attained. So with respect to the Divine character, the glory in itself is infinite, because it consists in the uncreated excellency of infinite perfection; but the manifestation of the glory is increased or diminished according to our knowledge or ignorance of the attributes and acts and character of the most high God.”—Henry Craig from Subserviency to the Divine Glory.

Fix the Eye of Our Faith on Christ

“When the Spirit works upon the mind of a rebellious creature, he reveals the knowledge of the glory of God only in the face of Jesus Christ. Upon Him, then, the eye of faith is to be fixed, in order to the clearer and fuller apprehension of that which alone can satisfy the soul.”—Henry Craig from Subserviency to the Divine Glory.

Consider the Ultimate End of Any Pursuit

“Before engaging in any pursuit, consider how it bears upon the great ultimate end of all things. God hath given you mental faculties, and you ought to employ them; but see that they are employed about those objects which tend to promote his glory. Pursuits of a trifling character, and especially those which require much expenditure of time and labour, as many mere worldly accomplishments do, are unworthy of an heir of heaven. God hath given you affections, and these affections are not to lie dormant; but see that they are awake to objects becoming a pilgrim and a stranger upon earth.”—Henry Craig from Subserviency to the Divine Glory.

Consider the Variety of Ways to Express God’s Glory

“Consider the variety of ways in which we may advance the Divine glory. Some to whom God hath given strength and ability, are called upon to glorify him in direct exertion for the diffusion of his truth; others are laid aside by weakness and infirmity, and called to bring glory to his name by meek submission to his dispensations. But no condition in life excludes us from the privilege. In the government of our own hearts, in the cultivation of secret communion, in the silent prayer that enters into the ear of Him who seeth in secret, in the performance of our relative duties with meek forbearance and long-suffering kindness, in the quiet discharge of domestic duties, the husband, the wife, the master, the servant, the parent, the child, all may, in their measure, willingly and happily aid in the diffusion of that glory, in the view of which all the redeemed millions shall finally rejoice.”—Henry Craig from Subserviency to the Divine Glory.