LIVING FOR GOD'S GLORY

MONDAY 28 JUNE 2021

As Christians, we are called to fulfil God's purposes, as His own mouthpiece, by the strength of His Spirit and for His own glory. In other words, as people set apart for God's purposes, we are fulfilling His will on earth by serving others and living for His glory. Just as we apply God's truth and follow His leading and guidance in our Christian walk, so are we designed to serve Him in every way, by the ability He provides. Therefore, our feelings, human efforts and abilities are completely out of the question or rather an insufficient foundation for living the Christian life according to God's will.

Reference: 1 Peter 4:11 King James Version (KJV)

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

The ability to speak, serve and minister to God and the saints is the function of God's grace. This means that a preacher, minister, evangelist, pastor and anyone rendering spiritual service must not trust or depend on their own natural ability. So our divine calling as Christians is to serve with our gifts, worship God and act on His behalf. Every Christian's mind needs to reflect on this purpose designed for all Christian services, if we are to live our lives for God's glory.

While living out the spiritual gifts God has given us, we are to act on His behalf and by the ability of the Spirit. Why is this truth so relevant and important? It's because God has dealt to each one of us a measure of faith. This implies that even our saving faith is a gift from God, and for this reason, we have no basis to function in any gift of God by our own ability. Since everything we are and have received is from God, we should endeavour to use or spend them for His purpose so that in all things, His Name will be glorified.

Beloved, we are specially chosen by God to be the mouthpiece of God. Even our spiritual gifts are not given on the basis of merit, but because God chooses to give them to us. For instance, as oracles of God, we access divine mysteries that grant us insight into the vast revelation of His will. These mysteries are revealed to us as we grow in the knowledge of God and gain levels in the spirit realm as His oracles. Another Christian function, like "exhortation" encourages people to practise what they have been taught, which is vital for a healthy Christian life.

There are Christians called and specially gifted to be generous givers. There are teachers in the body of Christ, who instruct the mind of Christ, and many more. However, today's topic reminds us that all of these functions are a supernatural gift of the Spirit, designed to bring God the glory in all things, through the ability He supplies us in Christ. Therefore, we must depend on the Spirit of God by yielding to Him while rendering our services to God and to man. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, who teaches and enables us at any point in time, granting us the desire and the power to will and to act on behalf of God's good purpose or pleasure. This means that He empowers us to serve God rightly through the use of our gifts.

Fulfilling God's purpose and glorious destiny for our lives can only be accomplished by the power of God. The is the same for every Christian, whether we serve in any capacity in the Kingdom, or we have a calling to serve others in ministry. Our faithful services in the Kingdom must never be the result of our own efforts, bearing in mind that it is God's purpose that He will be glorified in all we do for the Kingdom through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be all praise and dominion for ever and ever, Amen. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 12:6; Philippians 2:3-8; Colossians 3:23-24; Philippians 2:13.

Exuberant Declaration:

As a child of God, my life is lived daily for God's glory. I speak as God's oracle and I function with the mind of Christ. In whatever I do, I work heartily, as for the Lord and by the strength of His Spirit, honouring and glorifying God in my world. Hallelujah!