Picturing Theology

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P i c t u r i n g T h e o l o g y

Giving Glory to God Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

John 17.3-4 (ESV) - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [4] I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. It is amazing how we can misunderstand things. We think we know what something is all about, and we act on our wrong assumptions, and then we are amazed at how bad things are going, or are surprised when we learn that we were off in our thinking. One evening, a little girl was saying bedtime prayers with her mother. “Dear Harold, please bless Mother and Daddy and all my friends,” she prayed. “Wait a minute”, interrupted her mother, “who’s Harold?” “That’s God’s name,” was the answer. “Who told you that was God’s name?” asked the mother. “I learned it in Sunday school, Mommy. ‘Our Father, Who art in heaven, Harold be Thy name.’” ~ Bruce Larson I believe that for many Christians today, the Christian life is primarily misconceived and misconstrued. While they believe they have a proper understanding of things, they are wrong, and like the little child, they continue to go on with their error, not knowing they have misconceived the purpose of the entire Christian vision. This morning we are going to speak about the final purpose of all things, and the high aim of the Christian religion, all church life, and our raison d’etre (our reason for being). We exist for the glory of God!

I. What is the Definition of Glorifying God?

A. To glorify God means that we give him what he is worthy of; worship is “worth-ship,” giving to God what he is due by virtue of his person and work.