MAY THEME – “SEEING THE VALUE OF A SOUL FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE”
BEATS FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART
THE GLORY OF GOD: WHAT WE WERE CREATED FOR
Isaiah 43:7 — “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 — “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory…”
The glory of God is one of the most beautiful and life-changing truths in all of Scripture, yet many believers struggle to understand what it truly means. We often think of God’s glory only as bright light, overwhelming power, or heavenly splendor—and it certainly includes those things. But the glory of God is far deeper. God’s glory is the visible expression of who He is. It is the revealing of His holiness, beauty, power, wisdom, love, mercy, purity, and greatness. When Moses asked God, “Shew me thy glory,” God responded by revealing His character. The glory of God is not merely what God has—it is who God is being revealed. The tragedy is that many people spend their lives chasing their own glory—their own recognition, success, comfort, image, or importance—while missing the very purpose for which they were created. Scripture says we were created for His glory. Life begins to make sense only when God becomes the center, and our lives become reflections of His greatness instead of monuments to ourselves.
THE GLORY OF GOD REVEALS WHO GOD REALLY IS
The glory of God is what happens when God makes Himself known. Throughout Scripture, whenever God’s glory appeared, people became deeply aware of His holiness and their own need for Him. Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple and immediately cried, “Woe is me!” Ezekiel fell on his face. John became “as dead” when he saw the glorified Christ. Why? Because the glory of God exposes how small we are and how great He is. We live in a world that constantly minimizes God. Culture treats Him casually. Many even approach worship casually. But when someone truly encounters the glory of God, pride begins to die. Self-sufficiency begins to crumble. Hearts become tender. Sin becomes grievous instead of entertaining. The glory of God changes perspective. Problems no longer seem bigger than God. Fear no longer reigns as strongly. The soul becomes anchored by the awareness that God is holy, eternal, sovereign, and worthy. One reason many believers remain spiritually weak is because they know about God intellectually but rarely pause to behold Him worshipfully. We were not designed merely to study facts about God—we were designed to stand in awe of Him.
WE WERE CREATED TO REFLECT HIS GLORY
God did not merely create us to survive life, build careers, accumulate possessions, or gain applause from people. We were created to reflect Him. Just as the moon has no light of its own but reflects the sun, our lives were meant to reflect the beauty and character of Christ. A Christian should gradually begin to reflect God’s love, holiness, truth, mercy, patience, and purity. This changes how we approach everyday life. Your marriage is meant to display His glory. Your parenting is meant to display His glory. Your words, attitudes, decisions, worship, and relationships should point people toward Him. Too many believers separate “spiritual life” from “daily life,” but the glory of God was meant to touch everything. How you respond under pressure either reflects Him or misrepresents Him. How you treat difficult people either magnifies Him or magnifies the flesh. Even suffering can become a stage where God’s glory is displayed through endurance, faith, and trust. The enemy constantly tempts us to live for lesser glory—the glory of self, success, popularity, pleasure, or control. But every earthly glory fades. Only what magnifies Christ will matter eternally.
THE GLORY OF GOD TRANSFORMS THOSE WHO BEHOLD HIM
2 Corinthians 3:18 teaches that as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are “changed into the same image.” In other words, what we consistently behold shapes what we become. People become like whatever captures their attention most. If we constantly behold the world, we become worldly. If we constantly behold fear, we become fearful. If we constantly behold ourselves, we become self-centered. But when we consistently behold Christ through worship, Scripture, prayer, surrender, and obedience, transformation begins to happen. This is why worship is so vital. Worship lifts our eyes from ourselves to Him. It reminds us who God is and who we are in relation to Him. The Christian life was never meant to be powered merely by discipline—it was meant to flow from beholding His glory. Many believers are trying to change outward behavior while neglecting inward worship. But true transformation happens when the heart becomes captivated by the beauty of Christ. Rules may restrain temporarily, but glory changes desires. The more clearly we see Him, the more deeply we love Him. The more deeply we love Him, the more naturally we obey Him.
Imagine standing in total darkness holding a small flashlight. The light seems bright because everything around you is dark. But when the sun rises, the flashlight suddenly seems small and unnecessary compared to the overwhelming brilliance of the sun. That is what happens when someone truly encounters the glory of God. The things that once seemed so important—pride, recognition, temporary pleasures, selfish ambition—begin to lose their grip when compared to the greatness of Christ. His glory puts everything else into perspective.
The glory of God is not merely a theological concept—it is the very purpose of our existence. We were created to know Him, worship Him, reflect Him, and live for Him. The greatest problem in many lives is not simply weakness, stress, temptation, or confusion. The deepest problem is misplaced glory. We have taken glory that belongs to God and redirected it toward ourselves, our desires, our plans, and our kingdoms. But there is freedom when life stops revolving around us and begins revolving around Him. The Christian life is not about making much of ourselves—it is about making much of Christ. One day every earthly glory will fade away, but the glory of God will remain forever. Live in such a way that your life becomes a reflection of His greatness to everyone around you.
Warfare Prayer
Father, forgive me for the ways I have sought my own glory instead of Yours. Forgive me for allowing pride, self-focus, and worldly distractions to cloud my vision of who You are. Open my eyes to behold Your greatness again. Let Your glory fill my heart, my home, my worship, and my daily life. Change me as I behold You. Remove everything in me that misrepresents You, and help my life reflect the beauty and holiness of Christ. Let others see Jesus through the way I live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Challenge
Spend time today quietly reading a passage that reveals the greatness of God (such as Isaiah 6, Revelation 4, or Psalm 19). Instead of rushing through it, pause and worship. Then ask yourself honestly: “What in my life is competing with God for glory?”
TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Charlene Palmer
Ann Stanley
Aston Savage
Britany Smith ~ Breast Cancer
Christopher & Yting Kelley
Danny Jarrard
David Franklin
Dinay Rodriguez
Ellen Boyd
Jean Muehlfelt
Kim McClain’s Daughter, Amanda
Mary Williams
Nancy Riley
Phillip Roach
Susan Bankston – Congestive Heart Failure
Wes Knight
Amy Garner’s Dad
Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Angela Bryan’s Sisters
Annette Ford
Brando Echarte
Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers
Darlene Kelley – Cancer Treatment
Darlene Wiggins
Debbie Foskey
Deon Lotter
Don And Karelle Franklin – Mae’s Cousins
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Ed Adkins – Friend of Brian Edwards
Ed Franklin’s Son In Law – Heart Surgery
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gayle Sparks
Gloria Young
James Burnette
Jean Partee
Jean Partee’s Sister
Jessica Headrick
John McClain’s Mother
Joni Oberhage
June Cronan’s Sister
June Davis
Kailey Bateman
Kim McClain’s Mother
Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda & Mateen
Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Mays
Lonzo Christian
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
Mrs. Franklin
Nancy Brown
Nora Allison
Paul Bateman
Ron And Johnnie Barry – Friends Of Ashton & Glenda Bateman
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Roy Roach
Scott Lanier
Scotty Nix
Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Steve Michaels
Tammy Shelnutt
Tom Witcher