Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
We celebrate the glory of God by seeing His glory in and through the Word—that is, the Bible. Today’s verse talks about the benefits of the word being used as a guide for our daily lives. If you have time, Psalm 119—the longest psalm in the Bible—uses almost every single verse to talk about the benefits of God’s Word. I would encourage you to check it out and count how many times you don’t see a reference to His Word (also referred to as law, testimonies, commands, precepts, statutes, rules, ways.)
If we celebrate God’s glory by thinking and acting in a way that pleases God and draws our attention to Him, the Bible is our main source of understanding how to do that.
The Bible, however, is not just a collection of books aimed at helping us glorify God by living rightly. The Bible is a story about God’s glory. Check out a few of the verses below:
Isaiah 43:6-7 – God created us for His glory.
Jeremiah 13:11 – God identifies His purpose for calling Israel “His glory.”
Psalm 106:7-8 – God rescued Israel from Egypt to make known His power.
Exodus 14:4, 18 – God spared Israel from Pharaoh’s attack for the glory of His name.
2 Samuel 7:23 – God granted victory to Israel for the glory of His name.
2 Kings 19:34 – Jerusalem was saved for the glory of God’s name.
Ezekiel 36:22-23 – Israel returned from exile to vindicate the glory of His name.
Habakkuk 2:14 – One day God will fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory.
Okay, but those were all from the Old Testament. What does the New Testament have to say?
John 7:18 – Jesus sought the glory of God in His actions.
Matthew 5:16 – Our good works bring glory to God.
John 14:13 – God is glorified through our answered prayers.
John 12:27-28; 17:1 – Jesus’ motivation for enduring suffering was God’s glory.
John 17:24 – Jesus’ desire for us is to see and enjoy His glory.
Ephesians 1:4-6, 12, 14 – God chose His people for His glorious grace.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – We are implored to do everything for God’s glory.
1 Peter 4:11 – We should serve in a way that brings glory to God.
One of the most effective ways to see and celebrate God’s glory today is to read His Word and look for it. His glory is all over the pages of His story to us.
Consider this prayer today:
“Father, I pray Psalm 119:18 today for myself ‘Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.’ God, I want to read the Bible and see more of You. Would You help me to understand the things in Your Word that are difficult? Would You give me a bigger and better understanding of who You are as I read today? Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see You and Your glory. Amen.”