January 15, 2005

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.” Galatians 1:3-4

As Paul concludes his salutation to the churches of Galatia, he does so in a fitting manner. He has very succinctly defended the gospel by sharing how Christ “gave Himself” and “rescued us from this present evil age” according to “the will of our God and Father.” And as Paul finishes his thought he says “to whom be the glory forevermore.”

Today is Sunday. It is a day in which we normally, if we are able, gather at church and have fellowship with one another. We subject ourselves to the teaching of God’s word as well as corporate worship through prayer, giving, and lifting our voices to Him. Our motivation for doing so may vary. We may enjoy the fellowship we have with other believers. We may enjoy stretching our minds as we reflect on God’s Word and how it applies to our lives. We may receive emotional encouragement as we listen to a choir of believers lift their voices in one accord to honor the risen King.

The reason that we subject ourselves to all of these different experiences on Sundays, is the same reason why Paul was so adamantly defending the gospel. For His Glory!

We worship for His glory! We share the gospel for His glory! We give our tithe for His glory! We use our gifts and abilities for His glory! We lift our voices for His glory! We study Scripture for His glory!

Rick Warren, in the Purpose Driven Life, reminds the reader in the very first sentence of the book that “It is not about you.” I believe that on this point Rick Warren is exactly right. It is not about us! It is all about God and His glory!

Paul was not defending the gospel so that he could get a pat on the back or even be of good reputation among the other apostles. He was not defending the gospel because others were. Paul was defending the gospel because beyond his sole purpose in life we living for His glory!

How about us? Is our sole purpose behind everything we do to glorify God? Do we seek to glorify God in our worship? In our families? In our work and careers?

Today as you worship corporately and privately commit yourself to live your life for one reason. FOR HIS GLORY!