Englishman Henry Martyn served as a missionary in India and Persia in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Upon his arrival in Calcutta, he cried out "Let me burn out for God." As he watched the people prostrating themselves before their pagan idols and heard blasphemy uttered against Christ, he wrote, "This excited more horror in me than I can well express. . . . I could not endure existence if Jesus was not glorified; it would be hell to me, if He were to be always thus dishonored" (John Stott, Our Guilty Silence [InterVarsity, 1967], pp. 21-22).
Martyn had a passion for God's glory--and he was in good company. Angels glorify God (Luke 2:14), as do the heavens (Ps. 19:1) and even animals (Isa. 43:20). But as a believer, you glorify God in a unique way because you are a testimony to His redeeming grace.
You were created for the purpose of glorifying God--even in the most mundane activities of life, such as eating and drinking (1 Cor. 10:31). You are to flee immorality so you can glorify God in your body (1 Cor. 6:19- 20). You are to walk worthy of your calling "that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified" (2 Thess. 1:12).
Glorifying God is an enormous privilege and an awesome responsibility. When others see His character on display in your life, it reminds them of His power, goodness, and grace. But when they don't, it dishonors God and calls His character into question.
Aim your life at God's glory and make it the standard by which you evaluate everything you do.
Suggestions for Prayer:
- Thank the Lord for the privilege of glorifying Him.
- Ask Him to show you any areas of your life that do not honor Him.
- Find a trusted Christian friend who will pray with you and hold you accountable for the areas you know need to change.
Read Exodus 33:12-34:8
- What did Moses request?
- What was God's response and what does it teach us about His glory?
~John MacArthur~
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