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Is Glorifying God My Ultimate Passion?


Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Philippians 1:25-26

Adoniram Judson went as a missionary to Burma. He was so burned with the desire to preach the gospel that even before he had learned the language of the native, he walked up to a Burman and embraced him. The man went home and reported that he had seen an angel. The living Christ was so radiant in Mr. Judson's countenance that men called him "Mr. Glory-Face." When Christian workers really come to know the love God has given unto them, the Christian gospel will become irresistible.

Last two days we meditated on two reasons that Paul states as his purpose for remaining with them.  i.e 1) the Philippians progress in the faith, 2) Yesterday we dealt with the second their joy in the faith, and today we deal with the final one 3) their opportunity to glory in God through Paul.

‘To glory in’ is the Greek word kauchema, which is often translated ‘pride’ or ‘cause for boasting.’ Their joy is fastened to their capacity to have pride, glory in, God. The progress of other’s faith and joy is only accomplished by God being glorified in them and through them (cf. 1:20-21, Paul’s joy was coupled with his dedication to see Christ magnified in him).

In other words, Paul wants Jesus to get the glory for his coming again to the Philippians. The point is not their confidence in Paul; the point is their confidence in God for bringing Paul to them again. They’re going to be more confident about Jesus. They’re going to be more confident about God's providence. They’re going to be more confident about the sovereign overruling work of God in Paul's coming to them again.

And so he wants a church that's growing in grace, growing as believers. He wants a church that knows real joy -  the joy which is in the faith, the joy of the faith, the joy that only comes from Jesus Christ; and he wants them to glorify Christ even in their joy in him. And he's saying, ‘I'm willing to stay on this planet to work for these things.’

A watch or clock is meant to tell time, a car is built to be driven, an airplane to fly, a shoes to be worn. Using these things apart from what it is intended defeat the very purpose why they are made or built. Why? The purpose is not being realized.

Do you know that God has a purpose why he created us and redeemed us? Why does the Church-we Christian, exist? We can probably list some of it:
• To bring the Gospel to the lost, • To bring hope to the hurting • To get married • To prepare children for life • To solve our pain and problems • To have a comfortable life
These are some of the benefits of life, the side dishes, but not its purpose. They are good, but not the very purpose of our life.

The benefits of life are not the highest value, it is not the reason for living, but drive us back to Him as the reason for living. The very purpose of our life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

To glorify God means to live with such a passionate devotion to the Holy One, His person, His purpose, and His praise. Passion for the glory of God begins and is possible, when we choose to reject our own honor, refutation and self-gratification.

Paul’s passion was to know Christ. Our passion too should be to know Christ. That should be our deepest pleasures. Don’t focus on finding solution to our problem, but rather focus on the source of the solution and get to know His wills. We have to acknowledge that our hunger for Christ comes with Him and will not completely satisfy on the earth.

Dear Friends The motivation in Christian life is to know Christ and glory him. Don’t count work as an end of themselves. When we glorify God we make clear and visible to all people the nearness and the overwhelming power, authority and goodness of the Holy One. To accomplish this is to renounce ourselves of (our pride, knowledge, privilege, rights) and aspire to glorify God. This is the motivation of everything. This is what we were created for, to know God. This is our purpose in life. All of life is the arena in which the glory of Holy One is to be manifested. No part of life can be a matter of indifference or unconcern.

God Bless you.
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Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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