King David, as a wise king, taught the worship leaders how to glorify God, ascribing all the glory, honor, and strength due His Name. Songs and hymns of worship form the most common way we give glory and honor to God, but they are not the only way to exalt Him. God doesn’t need our worship. We, however, become the best version of ourselves when we worship Him. When we neglect to worship Him, we inevitably worship something, or anything, other than The One who is worthy.
From birth, we instinctively desire attention. Left to our immature selves we become gods of our own demise — self-centered, self-focused, and self-promoting. Therefore, we teach our children the courtesy of being thankful and showing appreciation to those who have been kind and generous to us. How much more important to acclaim God, giving Him credit, recognition, praise, and thanks for who He is and what He has done. By ascribing to the Lord glory, honor, and strength we worship — a worship He alone is worthy of receiving.
“Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and honor and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory and honor due His name; Bring an offering [of thanksgiving], and come before Him; Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”
1 Chronicles 16:28-29
But what does that really mean and how do we do it?
Glorify God
Christian composers release approximately 22,000 new worship songs each year. Such magnitude gives a symbolic representation of the passion musicians and composers have for exalting the Name of our God. But music and worship is only one of many ways we have to give Him glory, honor, and praise.
Matthew 5:16 says, “… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Day by day interactions with others speak louder than any Sunday worship service. Are we honest in business dealings and do we genuinely care for the needs and concerns of others? How we live out our Christian faith makes a big difference in what others thiink about God. Our actions speak louder than our words.
In I Corinthians 6:19-20 we read,“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Our spirits will live for eternity, but we live in temporary bodies. For God to fulfill His desire in and through us, we must learn to honor God by treating our bodies as His holy dwelling. Do our daily habits of eating and exercise honor God and bring Him glory? Are there ways we could improve in taking care our physical beings?
Okay, we understand our bodies need special care, how about our hearts. Psalm 86:12 says, “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” The CEB (Common English Bible) puts it this way, “Make my heart focused only on honoring your name.” Does this honestly define our hearts? Are we focused with whole-hearted devotion to glorify Him?
Oh friends, I have a long way to go in this area. What about you?
In Community
The Bible also talks about ways to glorify God as we live together in community.
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 15:5-6
One mind and one voice united incorporate worship and adoration. This kind of unity commands God’s blessing (Psalm 133:1-3) and speaks louder than any words we proclaim. In the private places of consistent and intimate communion with Jesus Christ comes a corporate blessing of fruitful lives — lives entwined in love and unity.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:7-8
Fruitful living brings glory to God. The reward comes to us and returns to Him as we praise Him for His works, trust in His Name, and obey His Word. There is no one like Him — holy, gracious, loving, majestic, wonderful, and wise. He is perfect and trustworthy in every way. Could we ever praise Him enough? Certainly, He is worthy of so much more.
For His Praise
Paul prayed for the church in Philippi,
“… that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:9-11
Whether through our active worship and praise, the stewardship of our hearts and bodies, our everyday words and actions, or good works toward each other, may God be glorified. As God’s children may we learn how to glorify Him, enthusiastically and publicly lifting up the Name of our God in every way possible and acknowledging His greatness.
“I am the Lord, that is My Name; My glory I will not give to another…”
Isaiah 42:8
So may we return to the counsel of the wise king, David, and with people around the world may we too
“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.“
1 Chronicles 16:23-24
For He alone is worthy! May there be a holy, unhindered release from the depths of all we are, to acclaim Him when no one is watching and when everyone is watching. We live for an audience of One. Praise His Name, forever!
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