Glory in the Lord

Glory in the Lord

Glory in the Lord? What does that mean?

Some say that it means that we are to rejoice when God does good things for us, while others believe that they are glorifying Him by showing off all there material wealth.

I had heard people glorying in all sorts of things, in every worldly possession rather than in God, saying how God has blessed them with all these very extravagant things such as, a large religious following and organization, a big house, a fancy foreign automobile, a key role on a television show, an attractive wife or husband, a hand full of diamond rings, a safe full of money, the list goes on and on causing those who have not accepted Jesus Christ to believe that the glory of God is in gaining things of the world.

“ He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 1st Corinthians 1:31

Glorying in the Lord is not what most people have interpreted it to be. Let us now get a better understanding to what it does mean by listening to the words of our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ.

When Jesus faced and went through much trouble for representing his Father (God), by this did he glory in the Lord for it is written, “ These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” John 17:1

And again, “ I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.” John 17:4

Jesus suffered greatly for preaching the gospel and in this he gloried in the Lord.

Jesus Christ said that if any of us would come after him, that we are to deny ourselves and take up our cross each day and follow him. Luke 9:23

The experience of the cross was not a pleasant one and any who will truly glory in the Lord will have to bear one.

Jesus said that the apostle Paul was to witness to the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel and that he must suffer great things for His (Jesus) name’s sake. Acts 9:16

Peter and the Apostles gloried that they were thrown into prison and beaten for doing the work of Jesus Christ for it is written, “ when they called the Apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:40-42
Paul and Silas had also gloried in God when they were stripped of their clothing and beaten, then cast into prison for teaching the truth of God’s word, for it is written, “ and at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Acts 16:23-25

In others words count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4

And again, “ many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19

Yes, people: glorying in the Lord means to rejoice in the bad times and the hardships that come your way for serving God.

The apostle Paul says that it is better to glory in the things that you have suffered through for being a true servant of Jesus Christ than to glory in worldly things that have no salvation in them, for it is written, “ If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed forever more, knows that I lie not.” 2nd Corinthians 11:30-31

He begins to list the infirmities or hardships in which he shall glory in the Lord, for it is written, “ of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Three times was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeys often, in perils, in the wilderness, in perils of the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” 2nd Corinthians 11:24-28

I know what many of you are thinking, saying to yourselves, “ does he mean I should be happy when things are going bad for me? It’s not normal to be happy when things are going bad? Does he mean that it is not glorying in the Lord when I get a new car, or get married after years of having sex out of wedlock, or it being our pastor’s anniversary? This guy must be crazy?

I am not crazy; only true servants of Jesus Christ can glory in the Lord.

Following Jesus is not an easy thing to do for it is written, “ If the world hate you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19

It is an honor to be called by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to suffer shame and persecution for preaching the truth of God’s word, to truly glory in the Lord, not teaching the traditions of men or their religious practices.

Many have made the praise of worldly things to be the glory of the Lord, this is not true for it is written, “ Love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1st John 2: 15-16

And again, “ What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his own soul or what shall a man exchange for his soul.” Mark 8:37

But Satan has convinced most of the world to believe that they can worship God and worship money at the same time, has persuaded them that glorying in worldly things and giving God the credit, is some how different from glorying in worldly things in general.

If this is true then what is the difference between the servant of God and the servant of Satan seeing how they both glory in the same things?

The Bible says that we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we will carry nothing out. Having food and clothing let us be therewith content.” 1st Timothy 6:8-9

People, we are to glory in the Lord not in worldly things.

People that do not know God glory in wealth and riches for it is written, “ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the Faith (of God) and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1st Timothy 6:10

Material things come and they go therefore it was never told to us to glory in them, for it is written, “ Set your affection on things in heaven and not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

We know to give thanks to God for our every day provisions but we also know that we are not to glory in any worldly things like money, land, property, food, clothing, or transportation.

We know that money has its place but we also know that any true servant of Jesus will not covet after it, neither glory in it and when we come to this understanding, we can receive the true riches of God. Luke 16:10-13

Glory in the Lord God and His son Jesus Christ, that you are counted worthy to suffer the persecution of this world for sake of His name, that you are counted worthy to be written in the book of life. Revelation 3:4-6


Until next time I love you

Minister Lamar F. Porter

5/12/2010