On this Independence Day, may we remember the ultimate independence we have by depending on the finished work of Christ. May we use this freedom from sin to live our lives to glorify Him out of gratitude for what He has done for us.
Be thankful for those who have given their lives for your freedom as an American. Be even more thankful for the ultimate sacrifice made at Calvary. (John 15:13)
As you watch fireworks, think of the Gospel. If it is in your heart and you never let it out to share it with others, it is like a burning fire shut up in your bones. You become weary of holding it in. In fact, you can’t. Burst with the Good News! (Jeremiah 20:9)
When you hear the marching bands, realize the Lord has blessed these musicians and the composers of the music they are playing with skill. (Psalm 33:3, Psalm 150)
Pray for our President and leaders. Be thankful for them. (2 Timothy 1)
Realize if you’re a Christian, your citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
“As we pay homage to America and honor those who sacrificed their lives to make it so, may we also remember the cross waves higher than the flag.” -Steve Camp (Twitter | Blog)
Whether you are married, dating, or single, Valentine’s Day is a great day to glorify God by serving others. What better way is there to celebrate the God’s love for us? Of course, Valentine’s Day is not the only day you can and should do this, but it does provide a unique opportunity.
Here are some of the many ways you can glorify God this Valentine’s Day!
Singles: For those who are single, it is easy to become self-absorbed on “Singles Awareness Day.” Don’t! Look outward and upward!
♥ Babysit for a married couple who has kids so they have the opportunity to go out together and strengthen their marriage. And don’t forget to have the kids make Valentine cards for their parents while they are out!
♥ Make a special dinner for a widow, especially ones in your own family. Use bright colored dishes and make it festive!
Couples: Spend an evening together evaluating, strengthening, and investing in your marriage.
♥ Take a look at your individual lives to evaluate the weak points in your walk with Christ, which inevitably transfer over to your marriage.
♥ Reach out to a couple who may not have the finances to have an evening out on the town.
♥ Do something out of the ordinary for your spouse!
Everbody: ♥ Reflect on the vast, unmeasured love of God who loved an unloveable, undeserving you! How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
I love drinking coffee, but I have to be careful not to drink coffee to the glory of coffee, but to the glory of God! How am I supposed to do that?!
First of all, I must be grateful to Almighty God for creating the coffee. He made the coffee plant grow so we might enjoy it! Genesis 1:29
God also provided people to harvest the coffee beans from the plant to make my job as a coffee drinker easier. I don’t have to pick the beans, I just grind them and pour them in the coffeemaker.
God has given me the ability and strength to drink coffee, as well as the ability to taste it! Psalm 139:14-“I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
When I drink coffee, it reminds me of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are missionaries in Brazil, where coffee is primarily grown. It reminds me to pray for each one of them and the work the Lord is doing through them in Brazil. Philippians 1
I need to be careful that I do not put my desires above God and His glory. Philippians 3:18-20
Don’t be greedy or selfish by drinking all the coffee. Share your blessings with others. Proverbs 11:25; 1 Corinthians 10:24- “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”
Another way to apply the previous principle is to surprise the guy behind you at Starbucks or your coffeehouse of choice by buying their cup of coffee. Let them know they’re worth a million, too! Philippians 2:3-4
Grocery shopping is definitely not on my list of favorite things to do. I love to cook, but I really don’t like to grocery shop that much! However, I’m trying to look at grocery shopping from a little different perspective.
How can you glorify God while you are grocery shopping?
Buy foods that are good for you. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20- “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”)
Watch what you spend. Be a good steward of your money. (Luke 12:42- “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?’”)
Let the lady with four screaming kids and two carts full of groceries go in front of you. She’ll be surprised! (Philippians 2:3-4- “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”)
Offer to pick something up for your neighbor to save them a trip. (Galatians 5:14- “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word:‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”)
Be genuinely interested in how the cashier is doing. Strike up a conversation with them. View their life in light of eternity. (James 4:14- “For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”)
Leave a tract in a noticable spot, perhaps in a greeting card, magazine, empty cart, or in a carton of drinks.
So, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I can glorify God even in the little things of life.
I’ve been watching Nick’s and Brooke’s dogs Peanut & Rocco for the past few days and have about a week left to watch them while they’re out of town.
Every time Brooke has called me while on their vacation, she thanks me and several times she’s said that I must be really happy. When I asked why the first time, she replied, “You know Nick’s favorite verse…’You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there isfullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.’ (Psalm 16:11)” And that made me think, you know, I really am happy. I enjoy serving others.
Paul writes this a little bit further down in verse 33 of 1 Corinthians 10: “just as I try to please everyone in everything I do,not seeking my own advantage, but that of many…”
Then it is fitting that I should be happy taking care of my “niece and nephew” because through taking care of them, I am serving my brother and sister in Christ.
Here’s just a few ways I can glorify God while dog-sitting.
I thank God for the privilege and ability to care for His creatures. (1 Peter 4:11- “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”)
I can be a witness to their neighbors, hopefully spurring them to glorify God because they see a difference in my life. (Galatians 1:24- “And they glorified God because of me.”)
I glorify God not only by not complaining about my responsibilities, but by taking joy in doing them. (Philippians 2:14- “Do all things without grumbling orquestioning…”)
I express my love for my friends by taking care of their dogs. (Galatians 5:13- “…through love serve one another.”)
By going above and beyond my call of duty because I realize, ultimately, I’m serving God. (Ephesians 6:7- “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.”)
All the main versions agree on this one: whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!
KJV: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
ESV: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
NIV: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
NKJV: Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
NLT: So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
NASB: Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Let’s dissect it a little bit: So what does glory mean exactly? This is what Merriam-Webster says…
Main Entry: 1glo·ry
Pronunciation:
\ˈglȯr-ē\
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
pluralglories
Etymology:
Middle English glorie, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin gloria
Date:
14th century 1 a: praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent :renownb: worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving <giving glory to God>2 a: something that secures praise or renown <the glory of a brilliant career>b: a distinguished quality or asset3 a (1): great beauty and splendor :magnificence<the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome — E. A. Poe>(2): something marked by beauty or resplendence <a perfect glory of a day>b: the splendor and beatific happiness of heaven; broadly:eternity4 a: a state of great gratification or exaltation <when she’s acting she’s in her glory>And now, an enlightening note by John Piper, explaining how to drink orange juice to the glory of God.
Some of you then asked the practical question: Well, how do you “eat and drink” to the glory of God? Say, orange juice for breakfast?
One answer is found in 1 Timothy 4:3-5: “[Some] forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.”
Orange juice was “created to be received with gratitude by those who believe the truth.” Therefore, unbelievers cannot use orange juice for the purpose God intended-namely, as a occasion for heartfelt thanksgiving to God from a truth heart of faith.
But believers can, and this is how they glorify God. Their drinking orange juice is “sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” The word of God teaches us that juice, and even our strength to drink it, is a free gift of God (1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:11). The prayer is our humble response of thanks from the heart. Believing this truth in the word, and offering thanks in prayer is one way we drink orange juice to the glory of God.
The other way is to drink lovingly. For example, don’t insist on the biggest helping. This is taught in the context of 1 Corinthians 10:33, “I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved” (RSV). “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Everything we do-even drinking orange juice-can be done with the intention and hope that it will be to the advantage of many that they may be saved.
Let us praise God that we have escaped by his grace from the total ruin of all our deeds. And let us do everything, whether we eat or drink, to the glory of our great God!
So how can we glorify God even in the little things? Let’s learn together!
