To the Praise of His Glory

As we look forward to the week ahead of us, we hear of bank collapses, rising interest rates, and many other various pressures. Some of this week’s pressures are very sad – two funerals. Other portions of it are exciting – spring break is here for many. But along the way, whatever we face, we must do it according to God’s purpose. Our purpose individually and corporately is simple – living to the praise of His glory.

God’s Plan for You – from Eternity Past

Before any of us were ever born, God developed a plan that included our redemption, forgiveness, adoption, and an inheritance in eternity. While rolling out this plan, God through the Apostle Paul made it crystal clear what our purpose was in the midst of it. Notice these words:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)

Let me point out the purpose. Notice the emphasized sections above – all three deal with praise.

In paragraph one, the paragraph highlights what God the Father has done for us in the salvation–sanctification–redemption process.

In paragraph two, the paragraph highlights what God the Son has done for us in this process.

In paragraph three, the paragraph highlights what God the Holy Spirit has done for us in guaranteeing our salvation and future eternal redemption.

Three paragraphs – each highlighting a member of the Trinity and God’s work on our behalf. All the way through the paragraphs, God’s role in our salvation is emphasized and highlighted.

The second paragraph specifically looks at Christ’s work which provides both redemption and forgiveness.

So What Is Our Purpose?

Notice in the first and third paragraphs, God’s work should result to the praise of the glory of His grace.

However, in the second paragraph when discussing redemption and forgiveness in the work of Jesus Christ, the purpose statement is much different. Paul writes, “that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.“

Friends, God did all this marvelous work so that we would live to the praise of His glory. That, my friends, is His purpose for each of us this week regardless of whatever it is that we may face.

In all our moments of sadness, joy, challenge, and fun this week, let’s seek to live to the praise of God’s glory.

Image Credit Jon Tyson