He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him (John 7:18). Glory comes from God, and is given by God to those seeking His glory. Jesus did not take glory to Himself but received the glory given to Him by the Father. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me” (John 17:24-25). God’s glory is revealed to those who believe. Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment (1 John 3:23).
We are not glorified by our actions, but by giving glory to God we are glorified through Him. When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). We are glorified by grace; He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God (1 Peter 1:20-22). There is transference of glory from God to us through Christ Jesus. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me (John 17:22-23). The glory from God is transferred through His message of love; “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).
We seek the glory of God by obeying His commandment, and His commandment is to believe in the one He sent and love one another as He has commanded. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). When you seek (look for) ways to give glory to God, you will find a way to give glory to God. If you ask God for ways to give glory to Him, it will be given to you. If you knock (make a noise at the door to let God know you want to visit with Him) it will be opened to you. Jesus said if you believe you will see the glory of God. Giving glory is an understanding of where the gifts come from, and that everything we have is a gift. If we believe in salvation through the Savior, we know where the gift is from. God’s glory is available to us because of the life Jesus lived, and through His death and resurrection has given glory to God and received glory from God. We seek God’s glory by believing in the Savior Jesus and by loving one another.
Jesus went to the cross when He asked God for the glory He once had with Him. Jesus did not go into a trance and meditate on the meaning of life to receive God’s glory. There was no praise team leading Him into the glory, and no screaming preacher to stir up the glory. Jesus lived His life by being an example of God’s love in this world. He told us to love one another, as He has loved us. He asked God for His glory, then was beaten and died for us. When Jesus needed rest, He looked on the multitudes without hope and His compassion was moved and He gave them hope. Jesus sought God’s glory by accepting God’s will. Jesus lived His life being what God created Him to be – and yes, God created Jesus as a Son of Man. He was always the Son of God. It is as the Son of Man, created by God, that Jesus lived among us to die for us. God gave to us His Son as our Son and we killed Him – in that sin is our glory; not that we sinned, but that we know we sinned and have come to Him to be forgiven. When we know our life as a gift from God (by believing in our Savior) and give God all glory, we will see His glory. When we love one another, we are living in His glory.
© 2010, Tim D. Coulter Sr.