What is an evil heart?

When we consider evil we usually think in terms of horrendous acts such as torture, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, genocide, and the like. 

But what about an evil heart? Is this something different than evil actions? It is - though they are connected. But unlike evil acts, an evil heart is far more common than we may think. 

This involves the why of our actions i.e. what is our motive for acting? Are we acting for the

¹glory of God or glory of self i.e. are we acting to advance God's rule (kingdom) or ²our own? We either do one or the other. These are opposite as well as opposed to each other. There is no middle ground. There can't be since seeking God's glory and ours, independent of God, are ³contrary to each other.

One of these two is the ultimate end we seek in every action - from the most grand of actions to the least significant - e.g. eating and drinking. 

What is at the heart of this difference and what enables us to live for God's glory?

We must behold God's glory (His infinite worth, importance, significance, beauty etc.) and partake of it in order to display it. If we do not, we will not experience it or be able to extend it to others. We are left to act only for inferior self-glory (self-exaltation), for we must experience ¹glory.  

Because we are created to know and partake of God - who is all glorious (most significant, important, and valuable) - but are absent this due to our rebellious distrust of God, we must experience ¹glory in some other way to function (even if it is inferior to the way we were designed to operate - i.e. in, by, and through God). 

To use an analogy, drinking from a toilet is better than dying of thirst...(at least initially, for we could die from disease if we continued doing so). Just like we must have food, air, and water, we must also know we have value-significance (glory) to exist much less function well - if not physically, at least spiritually and emotionally. 

If our experience of glory comes from the Source of glory - i.e. God - we function optimally and are most fulfilled and effective, as we were designed to be. If our sense of glory (worth) is ⁶self generated or achieved, we operate contrary to our design, break down, and eventually crash and burn at all levels, i.e. spiritually, emotionally, and physically. If we are not receivers of God's glory (as we are designed to be) we become only takers or grabbers of glory from somewhere other than God, the one true Source of life, love, and all things. 

To take glory is to dishonor and harm others. God first - the Source of glory - then our fellow image bearers. For we must take from others what they also ⁷need - i.e. their sense of dignity, importance, and worth - in order to do so.

This is the essence of an evil heart. It is the strategy we all engage in when not captivated by God's glorious love and beauty.

For a further discussion on how we are created for glory click here.

Are we actually rebels against God? For a further discussion click here.

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¹Glory - value, significance, importance etc., and a sense of these. God is most glorious and the source of all glory, we are designed to partake and participate in it.

2 Pet 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Some may wonder why or how not glorifying God is evil. Good question! 

If God is the Creator and sustainer of all good things, to deny this by living contrary to it (as if something other than God is the source of life) is a lie that results in actions with far-reaching and harmful consequences; actions that point to anything other than God as the source of true happiness (glory). To point people away from God by our seeking things other than God as the Source of life, love, and all things is to misleads them (whether intentionally or not). To mislead someone causes them harm. Causing others harm is the essence of evil. 

For a further discussion, click here.

²Some may wonder what is wrong with building our own kingdom? Isnt this a noble and worthwhile effort? 

Stated simply, we were created for much greater, more meaningful things. Building our own kingdom does not fit who we are (we only think it is because outside of God this is all we know and the best we can do). We are created to build kingdoms - grand ones at that -  but not exclusively for ourselves but for the King of kings. We are creatures in the image of God designed to  participate in Him. In doing so we find our greatest sense of meaning, purpose, and joy. 

But we must choose this. God does not force us to pursue Him, He lets us choose. 

Nevertheless enjoying Him above everything else is what we are designed for and where we find our greatest joy, meaning, and purpose. We are still a major part of the equation, but not the focus of it.

³They may be opposite but they are not separate. They are connected. How? When we glorify God we experience our greatest glory. But we do not honor-glorify God for this reason - i.e. our glory is not our focus but the result of focusing on God. We do so simply because God is all glorious and deserves all praise and all our praise. It is when we discover him as all glorious that we experience our greatest glory i.e. when we humble ourselves we are exalted...to find our life we must lose it...to live we must die etc. (This is a reoccurring theme throughout scripture, - and the essence of Christ's main teachings - sometimes referred to as the upside-down kingdom).

 

Experiencing our greatest glory (worth) is the fruit of recognizing God's infinite worth (glory). To see His glory, we must first die to efforts to try to obtain glory independent of Him. Obtaining our own glory independent of God's not only doesn't work, it is in opposition to God as well as to us.

⁴Because we were created for glory if we do not receive it from God we will seek it elsewhere. Otherwise, we give up and die.

⁵Seeking glory illegitimately is wrong for two reasons. 

1. It is contrary to our design and therefore what is best for us (i.e. it doesn't work long term). 

2. It is also contrary to who God is, who alone is all glorious (most valuable, significant, and worthy of all our affection and loyalty) and therefore, most worthy of our trust. 

To not recognize Him as He truly is dishonors Him. He alone deserves our worship (our highest regard for His infinite worth) and faithfulness.

⁶By using creation to get a sense of glory - value (both internally through the talents/abilities He's given us and externally through the natural resources all around us).

⁷except God, who is the cause and source of all dignity, worth, and greatness.

created for glory II

Everyone desires to feel important and significant. Is this a problem or wrong in some way? 

Our need and desire for significance - worth - value - glory - is not a problem. It is who we were created to be and are. We were created for¹glory; to receive it, experience it, reflect it back to the Source, and out to others. It is fundamental to who we are and were designed to be. 

Why? Because God is all glorious (most valuable, significant etc.). To experience his glory, we must take part in it.

To take part in it, we must be like God i.e., designed to take part. We cannot partake of His glory if we do not have the capacity

to experience it ourselves i.e., we are in His image and created for glory; God's glory. 

By partaking of His glory (significance, value etc.), we experience our own. This is the only time we experience it in the way we are designed to. To seek glory in another way - outside and apart from God - does not truly satisfy us because it was not designed to satisfy us. Therefore, it leaves us empty and leads to our eventual harm and destruction. 

This is part of being in God's image. We are like God, i.e. designed to behold and enter into His glory and thereby experience our own. Our greatest sense of meaning and purpose (happiness) is obtained by participating in God in all His glory, not other creatures or created things.

This also explains why everything we do apart from God - i.e. actions that are not driven by the Spirit-Love of God - does not truly satisfy. They are attempts to gain or restore the glory we lost and so desperately desire - an attempt to gain a sense of meaning, significance, worth, purpose, love, etc. - through our finite, feeble, independent, self-sustaining efforts with things that are temporary.

We can never successfully (i.e. permanently) find satisfaction outside of God since He created us for infinite and ultimate glory, only found in and through Him.

A desire or longing for a sense of worth isn't our problem; our attempts to acquire it (i.e. " self-worth") apart from and outside of God is. An infinite need for worth-glory can never be satisfied by a finite source, i.e. by us and our use of created things (including other finite image bearers). 

Our need is infinite because God is infinite in love-glory. We were designed to be engaged with and for the infinite i.e. God. This is where we shine brightest - best - and have our greatest sense of joy, meaning, and purpose...worth. It is who we are meant to be and what we are designed for. Nothing else works long-term.

Fallen from glory...

To behold God's glory, we must be able to see his glory. To see it, God must reveal himself to us. Why? Because we have turned away from God, severing our relationship with him and all the infinite love and life that comes through that relationship/union. We are spiritually blind. 

We cut ourselves off from the Source by acting contrary to His loving direction and design and are now broken, ²empty, and unable to see God in all his glory -- though we can certainly see enough to know something significant about him Rom 1:19-20.

Still created for it...

Nevertheless, even in our present state of separation, we are still created for glory i.e. we long for it and still have the capacity to behold His glory, just like a person with cataracts still has eyes capable of seeing that have been blocked and blinded by an obstruction. God must do spiritual surgery and remove the obstruction -- our self-centeredness along with all its effects -- before we can clearly ³see again.

When the obstruction is removed and our eyes are opened (unblocked and clear), we again began to see God in his infinite majesty, beauty, wisdom, power, and love (i.e. his glory). We find what our hearts have longed for all along and we start to fill with light again and a sense of purpose and completeness. 

The more we focus on this most glorious God, the more we experience and participate in the glory we were originally designed to have. As we do, we increasingly are filled with his glory, and are transformed and shine it back to him and out to others.

2Co 3:18  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image (the Source of our God-likeness) from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 

John 17:22  The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one... - (Christ praying to the Father).

Rom 8:21  that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 

1Co 13:12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face (with Christ). Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears (when Christ is displayed to us in all his glory) we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is (i.e. in all His glory).

Mar 12:29  Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  31  The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 

For more on what God is like and how we are like him click here and here.  

For more on how we are hard-wired for glory click here. 

For more on how God's glory is our highest good click here. 

Is God's glory and our delight in conflict? Click here

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¹What would be the equivalent of the word glory today? If you look at and compare the word in the original Hebrew and Greek, it gives us an interesting picture. 

Hebrew 

H3519   כּבד    כּבוד        kâbôd  kâbôd   kaw-bode', kaw-bode'

Definition:

From H3513; properly weight; but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness: - glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able).

The Hebrew definition depicts glory in terms of amount or volume. 

Greek 

G1392  δοξάζω  doxazō

Thayer GDefinition:

1) to think, suppose, be of opinion

2) to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate

3) to honour, do honour to, hold in honour

4) to make glorious, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendour

4a) to impart glory to something, render it excellent

4b) to make renowned, render illustrious

4b1) to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged

From G1391

From the base of G1380  δοκέω

dokeō; from δόκος dokos (opinion); to have an opinion, to seem: - deem (1), expect (1), has a mind (1), inclined (1), recognized (1), regarded (1), reputation (3), reputed (1), seem (3), seemed best (1), seemed fitting (1), seemed good (4), seems (3), suppose (5), supposed (2), supposes (1), supposing (4), think (18), thinking (1), thinks (6), thought (4).

The Greek depicts glory it terms of display or view. 

At first, it may not be apparent how glory - as defined in the Old Testament and New Testament - is connected. They seem to be very different. Where is the connection?

Originally Israel's economy was predominately agricultural, so the more weighty something was (or the greater the number, such as 100 camels versus 10) meant the more valuable, like 10 bushels are heavier and therefore of greater value than one or several talents of gold weighed more than one. The greater or more "copious" the amount, the heavier its weight and the greater its value. 

To show forth or manifest the dignity and worth of something in the NT was to put it on display. Shining a light on a copious pile of gold coins would reveal the greatness of its value. Or as the definition indicates "...to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged..."

Within both definitions is the central concept of value-worth. That we are in God's image and therefore can experience and display God's great worth/glory makes us significant and of great worth. We behold his infinite worth and display it to others. In so doing, we also find our greatest worth and glory i.e. purpose and meaning. 

²it is not that we experience nothing of life without a conscious interaction with God, but we only experience limited aspects of physical and emotional life through the creation - i.e. by using our internal abilities/giftedness and the resources of the material world around us. But these are all finite (limited) and do not bring fullness of life we were designed for or seek. We are made for the infinite i.e. God himself, the source of love, life and all things. We can not find true and lasting meaning, purpose, and value (happiness) until we find and engage the infinite God.

³We see truly again, once our spiritual eyes are restored - regenerated. But we do not yet fully see. We will see fully when we see him face to face. 

What does God value in us?

Why is humility so important? 

What best brings it about? 

Is there any connection between our value, as bearers of God's image, and humility?

We will start by looking at humility and then how this is connected to being like God - Jesus i.e. in His image.

There are at least three foundational truths to grasp for humility to increase in us...

1. We must know - in our heart not just our head - that all that we are and have comes from God - especially our being in His image with the capacity to enter into the union of Father, Son, and Spirit.

2. We must know God values us regardless of our failures (or struggles). In fact He actually uses struggles to advance us and strengthen our relationship with Him.

3. We must know God values us regardless of what anyone else thinks or says about us - i.e. we don't need to ¹promote ourselves and derive our sense of value through the praise of others. 

We are already fully and eternally valued and cherished by God. If God is for us who can ultimately be against us? Hint...nothing and no one...including ourselves! 

What is the basis of God's value of us? It is threefold.

1. God made us like Himself. It is His image in us that He values. Or it may be more accurate to say he values us because we are in his image.

But why does God value his image in us? What is it about His image He finds so attractive and appealing even though we are so broken, often ugly, full of doubts and distrust of Him? (...or maybe in part indirectly because of these - i.e. because of the humility our failures and struggles help develop in us). 

Christ also being in the image of God may be an important first clue to our value and humility. Let's take a closer look.

God knows our capacity and sees fully what we are becoming and will be that day we are finally and fully glorified and perfectly united with Him in ²eternity (because we are in his image we will be more ³like God on that day than we can even imagine or now see).

2. God no longer holds our failures against us - Christ already fully addressed them ⁴legally. 

In Christ, there is now no barrier between God and us on his side of the relationship (though we wander back and forth in our trust of Him i.e. our side of the relationship always fluctuates, but never His side). 

Therefore He fully and perfectly receives and embraces us in His love. He will never love us anymore (now or in eternity) than He already does because of Christ. To use a description by Paul, we are seated in heavenly places in Christ, at this very moment and every moment since we first trusted Christ! 

 

3. He knows where our struggles and failures are ultimately taking us. Since, in Christ, our rebellious distrust of God is no longer a legal issue, He now focuses on how to maximize the use of our failures and struggles ⁴practically i.e. how they are used to humble us - if we let them - and how they advance our increased participation in Him in all His infinite glory both now but particularly in eternity. 

Our eternal reward is God Himself. The more we humble ourselves the more we see and experience Him in the fullness of His glory and the greater our joy.

God is thrilled and delighted in us - because He is thrilled and delighted in Himself and His Son first and how we are becoming more like His Son through our struggles - and how we will finally be like Him when we are fully in union with Him and fully glorified alongside Him the moment we step into eternity. Because, at that time, our union with Him will be complete and perfect in the same way His Son's is - and was from eternity past and is again since his resurrection - the Son who is already and fully in the perfect image of the Father.

We will be like the prodigal son that his father lost, ⁵who returned. For now, God eagerly watches our progress as we grow in greater trust. He awaits our perfect restoration and union with him (in the same way the prodigal son's father did). At that time God will throw His arms around us, kiss our neck and throw a feast for us, ⁹celebrating our complete union and exaltation with Him forevermore. We will fully experience our glory by fully partaking of His. 

Like Christ, His only begotten Son, we too are his sons and daughters (even though Christ is the only eternally begotten Son; like Christ, we are the sons and daughters of the all-glorious Creator God). 

Because of what Christ did for us, He earned the status of being the first born of many "brothers" i.e. of additional sons and daughters. 

He was also the first (first fruits) to go through death and come out the other side fully glorified and victorious. This suggests there are others like Him to follow i.e. others who put their complete trust in Christ (as Christ did in the Father) and what He did to restore us to the Father. As God's sons and daughters in Christ we are next for we too have died in Christ and therefore will also be resurrected in glory. 

Imagine the delight the Father had in His Son from all eternity past and the excitement he felt upon His return to Heaven and being restored to His full glory and by His side again. The Father has this same ⁶eager anticipation and excitement for being with us and our being united with Him. He values us as His sons and daughters in the same way He values Jesus, His eternal, only begotten Son.

And what a day of joy and celebration that will be for God and us! The greatness of our capacity to be like God (Christ) and enjoy and reflect him throughout eternity will only be 2nd to Christ Himself! 

And the greater our ⁷humbling in this life - whether self imposed (through self denial and sacrificial love of others) or through painful circumstances - the more fully we will participate and engage in, experience, and enjoy the Father and Son in, by, and through the Spirit - both now, but more importantly throughout eternity. At that time we will fully join in the celebration and divine dance of glory and love between the Father and Son in, through, and by the Spirit. The greater our humility and trust now the more we enter into and partake of the only true God now but especially in eternity.

So never shy away from discipline, obedience to the Father, struggle, disappointment, set backs, suffering but embrace them - in the same way Christ did. The more we do the more we become like Christ and the more fully we will partake of glory (God's and our own) the same way Christ does.

God Himself is our reward and struggle is often the primary means by which we draw nearer to Him. The ⁸more you partake of challenges of any kind - either self imposed or externally imposed - and let them humble you, the more fully you will be able to engage and participate in God in all His wonder, majesty, beauty and glory both now but especially throughout eternity.

So count it all joy when you go through various struggles. Fix your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy set before Him endured the greatest pain. Get ready for His celebration of you and your joining Him in the greatest party you will ever have or experience. A celebration that never ends! This is the essence and glory of heaven.

For a discussion on what makes Christ unique as the only begotten son click here. 

For a discussion on the humility of God click here

For a discussion on why evil exists click here.

For a discussion on if we are accountable for Adams rebellion click here.

For a discussion on who we are but who we are not yet but will be click here.

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¹Self promotion - exaltation - is at the heart of pride and pride is the opposite of humility. We seek to promote ourselves to fill the void caused by God's absence, brought about by our rejecting and distrusting God in all His care, love, value, support, advancement and promotion of us. To lay down attempts to advance ourselves and receive the love, care and support of another requires humility and trust (and not just any "other" but the all wise, loving and powerful Creator God). It is acknowledging our dependence on another versus being our own god i.e. vs being independent. It is the reversal of the spirit of distrust and rebellion displayed by Adam in the Eden.

²We have the short view. God has the long view which happens to also be the most important and true view.  

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient (temporary, fleeting), but the things that are unseen are eternal (permanent, unshakable)" 2 Cor 4:16‭-‬18

³The potential of our being like God and fully experiencing Him lies dormant in us as bearers of His image. This capacity was not lost in our rebellion but lethally suppressed i.e. we died spiritually the day we rebelled and chose to be our own god. When we rebelled and broke trust with God, our spiritual light went out (though the capacity for that light to be turned back on remained). When we turned away from God, our full brilliance - glory - went dormant. What was left was a spiritual void - hunger - that we now seek to fill. But due to our rebellious distrust of the only One who can fill it, we seek glory outside of and apart from God through creation, instead of in and through Him who is the Creator.

Now we treat God as our enemy and the one that blocks (prevents) us from obtaining fullness of life - or so we think - through created things instead of the Creator of them. 

 

But is this true? Do we really think he's our enemy? How do we know? How can we tell?

If we get angry, when our plans to gain life outside of God are thwarted, we are ultimately shaking our fist at God. We believe He's the cause of our pain when it is His absence - due to our distrust of Him - that is the actual cause.

Physical death is evidence and the outward manifestation of our internal spiritual death that occurred at the rebellion of our original parents, Adam and Eve. In order for our true spiritual brilliance to be completely manifested in and through us again, we have to abandon our pursuit of being our own god and be fully united with - plugged into - the source of life and love - the all glorious, brilliant, majestic, and beautiful God who is our Creator and the Source of us and all things. God alone is our true life source - the source of all glory and brilliance...and of our glory and our brilliance - we are not. 

Being reunited with God - the source of life, love and all things - only occurs in and through placing our trust in Christs efforts on our behalf, not our own.

⁴Our rebellious unbelief (sin) is addressed in 2 ways:

Legally - objectively. Our rebellion is no longer held against us because of Christ and His bearing the full legal consequences of that rebellion i.e. God's condemnation and judgment for our rebellion are gone, removed forever and never revisited again by God. Christ bore all of it when He died and came back to life, putting these away from us forever.

Practically - subjectively. As we become more aware of the depth of our rebellious distrust we are humbled and increasingly understand the significance of Christ fully removing the legal consequences of our rebellion and our desperate need for Him.

⁵Due to his son humbling himself because of his failure to make it on his own.

⁶And not the Father only but the Son also eagerly anticipated His return as well.

⁷Challenges will either make us distrusting and bitter or better. It is our choice. We must choose to believe He is working for our good or not i.e. we are tested on whether we believe he is for us and not against us, just as Christ was tested in the wilderness, in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross.

⁸Do not question God's love and the good intentions He has toward you when allowing you to enter into and go through struggles or fiery trails. He is working in you things you do not yet fully see or understand, to humble you and enable you to be more like his Son so that you can better feast with Him in eternity as the Son does.

So "count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing..." - Jas 1:2‭-‬5

 

⁹If this is the response of a finite and flawed human father, imagine the response of a perfect, infinitely wise, loving, and all powerful heavenly Father. I would say we can't and won't be able to fully grasp this until that day we are looking face to face into His eyes.


A personal note regarding this post...

I used to dread dying and have always hoped I would die quietly in my sleep some day but after understanding the truths above I am inclined to accept the most challenging death, and now recognize going through such a death might humble me further so I might be exalted even more when I finally step into eternity with God. 

The closeness of our union with God and extent of our partaking of God in eternity is in proportion to our humility in this present life. 

Don't shy away from the things that humble you, embrace them. Doing so increases your capacity to experience more of God's embrace of you. Not His actual embrace (i.e. He already perfectly receives us now in Christ) - but our more fully receiving and experiencing His embrace of us now emotionally. This is already perfectly ours in Christ because of His efforts (not yours) on your behalf.

 

why God calls us to glorify him

Our first impression of God's regular exhortation to honor/glorify Him throughout scripture is it sounds like God is on an ego trip. Honor me, obey me, listen to me. But is this true? Since we are designed by and for God, could something totally different be going on?

Is it possible that the call of God to glorify him is a call to experience our greatest glory and joy? i.e. our greatest sense of value, meaning, importance, etc.? If so, how?

God calls us to glorify Him because He knows nothing else is greater than Him. It is only in and through Him - the All-Glorious One - we experience our greatest glory and joy. Though our greatest glory is not our focus, it is the fruit of beholding and honoring him. 

When we are asked to behold something beautiful, are we not delighted once we do? Yet our delight isn't our goal, it is the result of gazing upon something beautiful. These two are inseparable.

If God were not the God of great glory and we were not like Him (in His image), we would not experience the immense joy of knowing him or have the ability to experience Him in all His glory. We not only exist because he made us but we also enjoy him in a way nothing else in creation can because of the way he made us i.e. like Him, the all-glorious (beautiful) God.

The reason beholding Him results in our greatest glory is because He is the most glorious, beautiful being in the universe and we are like Him.

The reason God "pushes" so hard for us to constantly glorify him is because his love of us is that great i.e. he longs for our greatest delight and joy and knows that is most fulfilled in Him.

The call to glorify God is a call to be loved by Him - to receive and most fully experience his love, joy, and bliss that already exists between the Father, Son, and Spirit. The stronger Gods call, the greater His love is for us. 

If you (i.e. God) know that what you offer is that good and the love you have for the person you make the offer to is that great, you will go to infinite lengths to persuade them to take up your offer to the point of going over the top in your efforts; maybe even coming off as obnoxious or self-centered at times e.g. glorify me, honor me, pay attention to me. Recognizing that nothing or no one else is the source of your joy and meaning etc... You (God) know once they accept your proposal to honor you they will be delighted they did and be forever grateful for your persistence and staying "on" them. 

God doesn't call us to exalt Him repeatedly because he needs us (Acts 17:24-25) to glorify him (knowing and experiencing his own glory has already been and continues to be the essence of his being as Father, Son, and Spirit from all eternity past). He knows we need to glorify him. It is in our best interest when we do because it is aligned with how things operate and who we are.

He also calls us to glorify him simply because first and foremost he is all glorious. For him to call us to glorify anyone or thing other than him as most worthy of our praise and honor is not only untrue but it is to our harm and greatest loss.

The call of God to glorify him is an invitation to experience our greatest delight and joy. A joy that can only be found in the source of ultimate delight and joy i.e. The inter-relational joy and delight found from and within the Father and Son in, by, and through the Spirit.

In summary, there are two parts to God's call for us to glorify him. 

1.    He is all glorious. To find a greater glory in anything other than God is simply not true or possible. He alone is most glorious.

2.    He loves us infinitely and therefore desires our greatest delight and joy.

Actually, there is a third that flows out of the first two. 

     3.  As we increasingly experience God in all his glory, our desire to share it (him) with others grows, thereby expanding or multiplying His glory throughout the world, bringing joy to a greater number and greater honor to Him and greater joy to us. 

Other links that look at different aspects of experiencing his glory and our worth: 

·        Worthless rotten sinners

·        Hard wired for greatness

·        Created for glory
·        Does God value us?

·        Our worth based on what?

·        What is more important doing or being?

·        Gods love based on who or what?

·        Our worth - Gods glory

·        Giving and receiving glory

·        Why in Gods name does he love us?