The message this morning takes the focus off of us and puts it where it belongs. Community, there is nothing like the glory of God when whatever we do God gets the glory. Community if we didn’t know, we were made for his glory.
Of all of God’s creations, man and woman are the only ones that is made in his very image. When he made the stars in the skies, the sun and the moon, he crowned his creation by making man in his very own image (Genesis 1:26). I mean we are not spiders and cows or horses and monkeys; we are not the birds and eagles soaring in the sky; we are not dogs and cats. When it came to us God said, “Let us make man in our very own image, in our own likeness (vs 27). Community, that’s what you call glory! Readers, you are the glory of God! You may say, “Well, I’m a garbage collector,” or “I drive the septic tank truck,” or “I’m a dropout in school,”
“My last name is not Rockefeller, Kennedy or some other famous celebrity; my name is not in the Who’s Who Hall of Fame; I grew up in the south side of town.” It doesn’t matter; you have the crowning glory of almighty God upon you. You were made in the image of God, and guess what, He had glory in mind when he created you. You are special! It makes no difference what your last name is; you may have Down syndrome; you may be Autistic or physically handicapped, but you are the glory of God. So don’t let anybody make you feel like you are nobody. Don’t let anybody make you think that you are less of a man or woman, like you don’t have it going on. Educated or uneducated, tell yourself “I am God’s glory!” God skillfully, carefully and masterfully designed you and me. That’s why, ladies, you all are so beautiful; undersize, oversize, plus size and in between you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are God’s glory; now walk in it! That’s why men you are so handsome; you are God’s crown; and community, that’s why the devil hates you because anything that God touches is immaculate.
We are a masterpiece, state of the art; and though sin has marred and messed it up, we still retain some of that glory. My friends if anybody ever comes up to you and call you ugly, just tell them, “That’s a lie! God don’t make any junk; I’m the glory of God!” To call anything ugly that God made is an insult to the handiwork of God. Now community, when you carry God’s glory you don’t walk around with low self-esteem, and you don’t need anybody to validate you because you know who you are in Christ! And since we are the glory of God, that means that whatever we do, we should do it for his glory. I want God to get the glory out of my life! Now, this may not be popular to those who like to be seen, those who like to be in the limelight or those who think that the church is all about them. But Colossians 3:17 says, “In whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus …”
Now, giving God the glory means first of all living a life that is pleasing to God; ask ourselves the question: am what I’m doing bringing glory to God? Is he pleased with the way I’m living? The way I act? Is he pleased with my temperament? My attitude? Am I living a moral life, a life of integrity for his name sake? When God uses us in some way or another do we take the credit? Does pride fill our heart? Do we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to (Romans 12:3)? Or do we say, “To God be the glory!” in verse 23 of Colossians chapter 3 Paul said, “And whatsoever you do, do it from your heart, as unto the Lord, and not unto men…” We are not to do anything to be seen by men (Matthew 6:2). We are not performers; we are servants. I say today, that life will take on new meaning when we do everything for his glory.
Community, the majority of our problems in churches would just vanish; selfishness will leave because it’s not about us. Jealousy will melt away; it won’t matter who’s over something, and the church will be blessed when we do what we do for his glory. When we give freely and love each other, my friends, when we live as Christians should, when we live godly in an ungodly world, resist temptation and take a stand for righteousness it brings glory to God. It doesn’t matter if someone has done you wrong; when we forgive them it brings glory to him. Community, how happy we would be; heaven would rejoice and God would bless us, our families and our churches; his name would be glorified when God’s people used their gifts, talents and abilities to glorify him.
He gave his best for us; we ought to give our best for him; today, and for the rest of my life, I want to do what I do for the glory of God!