Glorify The Lord

The word "glorify" seems to be such a common word in the Christian circle. To glorify God is such a fundamental calling of each Christian that what we think we are pretty well clear on what we need to do or be. Afterall, we yearned to glorify God. So we want to be kind to others, not to exploit others, speak to one another with grace, turn the other cheek, share Christ with others, tithe, etc. etc. so that God may be recognized, praised, and adored. Afterall, the word "glory" means "great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown" according to answers.com. So we usually associate the things we do / say to bring honor and praise of whom we want to bring glory to.

However, when Jesus uses the word "glorify" in John 17:1, it seems to be so out of place. ".. Father the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you." 'Glorify' is here associated with Jesus' death. Isn't it also curious to read in John 21:19 that, speaking of Simon Peter's death, we read ".. this he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God." God's glory = death? This sounds too much like a sadistic God. How does death bring about God's glory? Is God glorified in having a people who embrace death fearlessly and rejoice in suffering? Or is it somehow that, magically, Christians who are willing to die for Christ, like the martyr's death, are those who bring God glory? No! It contradicts the blessings that God wants to bestow on His children on earth, and the longevity of life that many followers of God have enjoyed in the Bible. But our death and suffering are instrumental, and in fact, crucial to God being glorified.

The real glory of God does not just just end there on the cross with Jesus' death and suffering. The glory of God is revealed in the resurrected life of Jesus and those who are born again. So it is the same for all Christians. We are to walk through the roads of suffering and death to bring glory to God. Death and suffering themselves do not bring God's glory. It is the life of victory after death and suffering that brings God glory. We must look beyond our death, whether physical or spiritual death, and suffering (which I am sure is very real to each one of us), and see how God will be glorified through them all.

When my father was on his death bed, I kept asking God how did my father's death bring him glory. The death of my father did not, but his death completed my father's earthly life who has lived out in obedience and character of God to the best he could. My dad's life, though imperfect in many ways, was not marred in any ways that others can attribute shame to God. God preserved the dignity of his life in bringing glory to Himself. The reality of God also lives beyond his lifetime in the lives of his children and grandchildren. God is glorified.

When we "die" a little bit everyday, when we "suffer" for others, we must pray and look forward to how God will bring glory to Himself, because they are not the endings of a story, but only the beginnings.