Learning How to Glorify God in All Things - The Crosswalk Devotional - April 8
Learning How to Glorify God in All Things
By Emily Rose Massey
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17, NIV
When I was in my early 20s, shortly after graduating college, I searched for the “perfect” job. I was so worried that I would end up in the wrong position, and waste my gifts and experience. My degree was a BA in Theatre & Dance with a specialization in performance. Once I decided not to move to a big city, I knew the chances of finding a job in the Midwest in my specialty were slim to none. So, I was willing to compromise- for a period of time at least.
After nine months of unemployment after graduation, I finally landed a job as a receptionist in a small medical office as an insurance verification specialist for durable medical equipment. It did not make a lot of sense with my theater degree, but it was better than no job!
Since I wasn’t weighed down with classes, papers, projects, rehearsals, and shows, I was able to spend more time in my Bible and time in prayer. The Lord truly began to work on my heart. Instead of focusing on the frustration that the job was not in my field, I began asking the Lord to give me opportunities to show His love to people encountered in that small medical office on my way to work in the morning.
I realized God had placed me in that office for more than just to perform a particular job to get a paycheck. Ultimately, no matter what task I accomplished, I was there to do it all for God’s glory. I also realized God cared more about people than He did about my productivity or accomplishments; He wanted me to show others more about His love and if possible, share the truth about Jesus. In Colossians chapter three, the apostle Paul says in his letter to the Church as Colossae:
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV
Paul reminded the Colossians their ultimate purpose on this earth was to give God glory by showing His love, walking in peace with one another, and doing all things with a heart full of gratitude.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
What does it mean to give God glory? The word “glory” bears the idea of the greatness and splendor of God as it pertains to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the word “glory” is translated as “honor, dignity, worship, and praise.” When we put the two together, we see that glorifying God means acknowledging His greatness and giving Him all the worship, honor, and thanksgiving in all we do.
God’s glory is the essence of His nature- we bring Him glory when we revel in His divine essence. How often are we consumed with mundane activities that we forget whom we are doing it for? I believe if we lose the motivation that we are doing it to glorify God, we are prone to grumbling and complaining, much like the children of Israel. We become ungrateful, and our hearts begin to grow hard and cold toward God. We begin to simply “go through the motions” in life and soon we are looking to other things to satisfy a longing in our soul that only living a God-glorifying life can satisfy. We were made to worship God, and He gave us the gifts and abilities to do that every day.
Are you finding yourself grumbling and complaining when you are doing mundane tasks throughout the day? When you are tempted to complain about your daily activities, turn that into an opportunity to praise and thank God. Are you questioning your purpose regarding what you are doing for a living, for example, your career? Trust that God has you exactly where you are supposed to be. Pray for wisdom and seek godly counsel if you believe it is time for a change. In the meantime, ask God for doors of opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone God has placed around you. You will be amazed at how it will begin to change your perspective on seemingly meaningless tasks or situations that make you uncomfortable or frustrated. Suddenly, you will search out chances to glorify God and tell others about His amazing love through the glorious gospel!
Further Reading:
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