I’ve spent several days in Ephesians 1 lately, and I noticed
that Paul makes frequent references to God’s glory:
- 6- “…to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved” (ESV).
- 12- “…so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory.”
- 14- “…who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.”
- 18- “…what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Since God’s glory is the reason for our election,
sanctification, and future hope, how then do we live “to the praise of His
glory”? In a sermon
on Ephesians 1, John Piper commented “God adopted us in our unworthiness to
make His glory look great.” God’s glory is displayed in the grace and mercy
that He extends to unworthy people.
I wonder if we in the church have forgotten what it is that
glorifies God the most? We look for numerical growth, relational depth, pursuit
of spiritual disciplines, etc. All of those are good things that can glorify
God, but are they the primary thing? Perhaps we need to be looking for people
who are weak enough and desperate enough to say “I can’t do this on my own;
only Christ can do it in me.” Maybe God’s glory is better seen in our humility
and weakness than in our strength and progress. We are small, weak, dependent,
and faltering, but His strength is perfect.
Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Paul was told, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in
weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul also wrote, “For the foolishness of God is
wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians
1:25). Why is it then that we are so reluctant to expose our weakness, either
individually or as a body? Is God glorified more by the perfect record of a
person who is no longer tempted in a particular way, or by one who falls
periodically but is learning to depend on God for grace and mercy? Jesus said, “There
will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
And in the Body, why do we compare church size and programs
as a measure of our worth? Is God not glorified more by a small group of people
who are relying on Him desperately than by a large group who can get along
without His intervention? I’m reminded of Gideon and the army that God pared
down to 300 warriors “lest Israel boast over Me, saying ‘My own hand has saved
me’” (Judges 7:2).
Pride can trip us up every time. As individuals we want to
appear like we have it all together, like we’ve overcome sin and have no faith
struggles. As churches we think that growing numbers and visible activities are
signs of vitality. But what do we really have to boast about? God is the One
who saved us, and He’s the One who causes us to grow in faith. We were dead,
but He made us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5). When our faith fails, He
remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of
my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians
12:9b).
© 2016 Dawn Rutan.
