Glory to God Alone
DEVO
When talking about worship and thinking about glory to God alone, I can’t help but ask the question, What is worship? And what is glory? To me, words mean a lot, for by them we think about things, through thinking about things, we make choices on how to live.
When I was getting my Master’s Degree, the professors used to say a phrase all the time: Your theology determines your philosophy, which determines your doxology. To say it another way: What you believe determines how you think, which determines how you live.
All of this sounds like it’s stuff we already know and can grasp without having another lesson or
devotional, right?... but as Paul and Peter said in multiple places in the New Testament, “it’s good for me to remind you about such things,”…I believe it is good to be reminded of words and scriptures that help us refocus in on Who God is and our response to Him.
What is worship?
To sum it up: Worship is an expression (and can be a feeling, but not limited to) declaring the worth or worthiness of God with all of one’s life: head, heart, and hands to Who God is and what He has done.
Romans 12:1-2 give us a great idea of what God is asking of believers in worship
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
What is Glory?
Webster defines glory as:
1) high renown or honor won by notable achievements
2) praise, worship, and thanksgiving offered to a deity
Isaiah 42:5-8 reminds of us God’s glory and His thoughts on it
“This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” These two words and definitions remind us and center us on the true nature of worship…..it’s all about Him and for Him. They remind us that Worship is about living a life that is a sacrifice of praise to God….by word and deed. This is not a life of perfection for sure. It’s not about legalism, it’s about love and gratefulness to the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of all things…a striving toward Christ and His commands. And to be reminded, it is not our accomplishments or achievements that matter, because God does not share His glory with another. God is God and we are not. All of our accomplishments are because of Him….and so goes the honor. I live, I work, I sing, I worship, I lead, and I do everything for God.
QUESTIONS
When talking about worship and thinking about glory to God alone, I can’t help but ask the question, What is worship? And what is glory? To me, words mean a lot, for by them we think about things, through thinking about things, we make choices on how to live.
When I was getting my Master’s Degree, the professors used to say a phrase all the time: Your theology determines your philosophy, which determines your doxology. To say it another way: What you believe determines how you think, which determines how you live.
All of this sounds like it’s stuff we already know and can grasp without having another lesson or
devotional, right?... but as Paul and Peter said in multiple places in the New Testament, “it’s good for me to remind you about such things,”…I believe it is good to be reminded of words and scriptures that help us refocus in on Who God is and our response to Him.
What is worship?
- Webster defines worship as: the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity
- Worship Professor’s definition: Biblical worship is the full-life response-head, heart, and hands- to who God is and what He has done.
- Webster’s origins of the word: Old English weorthscipe‘worthiness, acknowledgment of worth’(see worth, -ship).
To sum it up: Worship is an expression (and can be a feeling, but not limited to) declaring the worth or worthiness of God with all of one’s life: head, heart, and hands to Who God is and what He has done.
Romans 12:1-2 give us a great idea of what God is asking of believers in worship
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
What is Glory?
Webster defines glory as:
1) high renown or honor won by notable achievements
2) praise, worship, and thanksgiving offered to a deity
Isaiah 42:5-8 reminds of us God’s glory and His thoughts on it
“This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” These two words and definitions remind us and center us on the true nature of worship…..it’s all about Him and for Him. They remind us that Worship is about living a life that is a sacrifice of praise to God….by word and deed. This is not a life of perfection for sure. It’s not about legalism, it’s about love and gratefulness to the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of all things…a striving toward Christ and His commands. And to be reminded, it is not our accomplishments or achievements that matter, because God does not share His glory with another. God is God and we are not. All of our accomplishments are because of Him….and so goes the honor. I live, I work, I sing, I worship, I lead, and I do everything for God.
QUESTIONS
- How is your lifestyle of worship going in light of what the scriptures have to say?
- Are you reflecting the glory of God in your daily life or are you searching for your own significance
- through personal achievements? (accolades, work, looks, knowledge, friends)
- How is your time in the word affecting how you think? How you live?
- in light of the definition and origin of the word worship or ‘worth-ship’, have you ever asked the question: What is God worth to me? What does that mean for my life?
- What gets you motivated and maybe even excited to worship the Lord? (for Who He is and What He has done)
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