What does the word “glory” mean?
This word appears literally hundreds of times in the Bible, but for many of us, the concept can feel abstract. Is it referring to honor? Renown? Praise? Beauty? Fame? And what about all the different ways that “glory” is used? Does it mean something different when we’re talking about “the glory of God” versus “giving glory to God,” or “glorifying God?”
The truth is, the word “glory” can have slightly different meanings depending on its context, but it generally refers to the manifest presence of God. The glory of God is the fullest expression of His character, attributes, and ways. When we give glory to God, we are not simply giving credit to God, but we are directing everyone’s attention to God’s perfect goodness. This is one reason why the integrity of our faith and worship is so important. If we praise God with our lips, but chase the world with our lives, then we are not actually glorifying God. His nature, and His love, are not made manifest by our mere words, but by our lifestyles.
All of this background helps us to understand what Jesus is praying in John 17. In this chapter, Jesus is preparing for His death with rather strange language: “Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you” (John 17:1). These are not the words you would expect from someone about to be executed! But once we understand what glory means, then we can understand what Jesus is saying here:
“Make your presence manifest through me.”
This is the great irony at the heart of John’s gospel: the moment of glorification coincides with the moment of crucifixion. Although we tend to equate glory with honor and fame, Jesus is saying the exact opposite. The clearest revelation of God’s character is not in the Son’s exaltation, but in His humiliation. In other words, if we want to know what God is really like, then we need look no further than Jesus on the cross.
For the world, this notion of glory is utter nonsense. It doesn’t sound like glory at all. But for Christians, this is our call. If we desire for our lives to truly glorify the Father, just like the Son, then the weight of our worship does not come from our Sunday morning singing or the Christian bumper stickers on our cars. Instead, one of the clearest ways we glorify God is through our humble, sacrificial love. When we actively lay down our idols, our comforts, our priorities, and our preferences out of love for God and others, we embody the character and ways of Christ, who did the same out of love for us.
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71 thoughts on "The Glorified One"
Oh boy, this was very convicting for me. Such a good word!!
Gosh I loved reading that it was so powerful and opened my eyes to what true glory is.
Ditto!
Thank you, Sharon, for this beautiful and rich devotional. No blank space left on these pages between my notes from the scripture and my notes from the devo! So grateful for SRT. Thank you, Jesus.
❤️
This may be my favorite “devo” ever in the 5+ years I have been reading SRT. As I was reading ch. 17, I was trying to figure out what glorifying meant. This is the perfect definition. Thank you SO much.
For a long time, John 17 has been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. Jesus knew He was going to the Cross, yet He prayed to glorify God in this time…He prayed for His disciples & He prayed for us. US! We were the joy set before Him, He willingly, sacrificially went to be humiliated (GOD!) For us, for our salvation! It’s something to amazing for words…I pray that I walk worthy of that calling, being one with Him, with my brothers and sisters, so that everyone can see His love!
I’m so sorry for your loss Maria. What a beautiful testimony of your FIL’s life. Praying today that my love and life would glorify God.
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. – John 17:21 very powerful scripture
I love verse 20, He prayed for those who would believe in Him. Jesus had the vision to pray beyond them. He prayed for us. He knew His intercession would prevail. Let us rest in Him.
“We glorify God through humble, sacrificial love” – such a great reminder especially for all those tired mamas. Sometimes I feel like caring for our children is one of the best ways to embody Jesus’ example, through patience and selfless caring. May we learn to translate that to our adult relationships as well
“We glorify God
Angie thank you for this beautiful summary and prayer. I pray your mothers surgery went well.
I’m a labor and delivery nurse and I am praying for healthy and safe delivery for you!
I thought the same thing. Praying for your husband.
The Podcast was just over the top. I usually try to focus on 3 to 4 scriptures and journal that group of scripture, but this entire chapter overwhelmed my heart. It was like you could literally hear the love for Jesus had for His disciples; “the people you gave me”. We stand here 2000 years later on His obedience to the will of the Father, “I have given them Your word” and then He ask “I am not praying that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one”.
I feel as though my heart has melted in the knowledge of this great love.
And… I accidentally hit return… sorry!
I must have cancelled an earlier post this am. Let’s be disciples today and every day, sisters! I noticed that Jesus’ prayers for the disciples and all believes were so very similar. We are His disciples too. May we live like we are! Don’t let us take our ‘God box’ off the shelf on Sunday and then not open it again for a whole week. Let us tell and show others whose we are each and every day!
I must have cancelled an earlier post this am. Let’s be disciples today and every day, sisters! Don’t let us take our ‘God box’ off the shelf on Sunday and then not
Such wonderful, insightful comments and prayers today. I highly recommend the podcast! We have Rachel Myers back on it again! They had many many bits of wisdom, I wish I would have had a notebook handy. It is such a great accompaniment to this study. I feel so blessed to have found this group/study years ago, and I literally can’t wait to get “into the word” every day.
And another thing, if you haven’t, please listen to the week 5 podcast, featuring Raechel Myers, the co-host herself as guest. I’ve been missing Raechel dearly from the broadcast & wildly appreciate the joy she & Amanda share when discussing scripture & exchanging wisdom & inspiring faithfulness with their guests. In this podcast Raechel opens a wee window into her time away. My big “takeaway” is our God is so much mightier than any mountain before any of us. And so it is! Huge Hug & Powerful Prayer!
I am in awe that Jesus, t the end of His time on Earth, would pray for and be thinking about us. Thank you Lord Jesus for Your selfless love. Shes’s I need prayers for my husband. Long story short the medicine that seemed to be the answer for managing his disease may not be working. His life, especially childhood, have been anything but easy. This disease is an added stressor on his already weary soul. I don’t want this news to be “the straw that broke the camels back”. He has a personal relationship with God and he knows that God is good and that His ways are higher, but I pray that he would fully put his trust and faith in Him. Please pray that this medicine would end up working and that I will have the right things to say to encourage him. Thank you ladies! I don’t post much, but I pray for you and your request daily. This is such a wonderful community.
I am in awe that Jesus, t the end of His time on Earth, would pray for and be thinking about us. Thank you Lord Jesus for Your selfless love. Shes’s I need prayers for my husband. Long story short the medicine that seemed to be the answer for managing his disease may not be working. His life, especially childhood, have been anything but easy. This disease is an added stressor on his already weary soul. I don’t want this news to be “the straw that broke the camels back”. He has a personal relationship with God and he knows that God is good and that His ways are higher, but I pray that he would fully put his trust and faith in Him. Please pray that this medicine would end up working and that I will have the right things to say to
WOW!! My habit is to read the day’s scripture before the devotional & community comments. I jotted in my study notes, “glory” & “glorification”: look up meaning”. So I was BLOWN AWAY when Sharon Hode Miller jumped right in with the answer! NOW, that’s a sure ‘nuff manifestation of God’s nod to my morning!! My favorite passage today is John 17:v.6, when Jesus says: “I have revealed your name to the people YOU HAVE GIVEN me from the world. They were YOURS, YOU GAVE them to me, and they have kept YOUR Word”. All the caps are mine. What intentionality. The thought these men, these disciples were expressly chosen by God & given to his eternal Son. What joy made complete. God cared so much for us that He gave His beloved to us & gathered the exact persons to walk with Him on earth & receive the truth in flesh! Something to meditate on throughout my day. Thank you Miss Miller for offering definitions. But above all, Thanks be to God.
I am in awe that Jesus, at the end of His time on Earth, would pray for and be thinking about us. Thank you Lord Jesus for Your selfless love.
I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but I noticed that Christ made reference to the beginning of time and being with God three different times in Chapter 18 of John. I never noticed that before, I guess that’s why I like doing these studies and like being a part of SRT.
BUT GOD!!! BUT JESUS!!! BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!!
Sharon Hodde Miller’s devotion is soooo very powerful and meaningful. She has me thinking about ways I need to change my life to glorify the Lord more. Am I not just talking the talk but walking the walk? Am I truly glorifying God, Christ and the Holy Spirit? Self-examination is what I need to be doing.
Sisters be blessed and go out and GLORIFY the Lord.
❤️
Ladies, could I have some prayer? I messed up and had a REALLY embarrassing encounter with my neighbor. The details don’t matter but could you please pray for a release from shame so we can all just move forward? My anxiety riddled shame spiral from this embarrassment is making me realize just how much I make an idol of my own reputation. I also just obviously messed up and would like prayers for grace and the clarity to move forward in healthy ways. Big cringe!
Angie, thank you for such a wonderful prayer..
I’m praying for your mom’s surgery..
Soli deo gloria, now and forever.
I bow down and surrender all of me to Him.
♥️
Sharon Hodde Miller, thank you for such a clear description of the meaning of “glory.” To see in Jesus’ prayer that the Lord, who “will not give my glory to another” (in the sense of false gods or idols), does give believers the glory of God… for a purpose. “…so that they may be completely one, that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.” This is recalling Genesis 1 language, where man and woman are created in the image of God. We are created with the purpose of being representatives of God. The Fall made that impossible. But God in Christ is restoring His image in us. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). In our very origin, we are created to bring glory to God. And it is only because of His work in us and the Spirit (Rom. 8:26) and Christ (Rom. 8:34) interceding for us that this is even possible.
Thank you, Angie. These words spoke to my heart this morning.
Sharon Hodde Miller, thank you for such a clear description of the meaning of “glory.” To see in Jesus’ prayer t
What a blessing to know that Jesus prayed for us. Angie, thank you for your beautiful prayer. I am going to read it again tonight and I am praying that your Mom’s surgery goes smoothly. Also praying for all here this morning and various events and issues in your lives. Adding so many to my journal and prayer list – AG’s aggressive student, Ali Adair’s pregnancy, Marie for FIL and family, Allison Mitchell’s OCD, Janie Diffly’s DIL and birth of baby James. ❤️. Love to all.
Praying for your mom Angie.
Caitlyn Rivero, We are so blessed you’re here with us.
I awoke with such a bad attitude. My comforts, preferences and priorities have not been met for some time. I mean, I was a total grinch, as my husband handed me a cup of coffee in bed. After journaling (letting my feelings out on paper), I then opened the word to and the study to John 17. I was struck between the eyes of the last sentence -“When we actively lay down our idols, our comforts, our priorities, and our preferences out of love for God and others, we embody the character and ways of Christ, who did the same out of love for us.” My attitude, priorities, comforts, preferences, do not glorify God. Because, often, they are MINE!! and what the world may consider so good. CONVICTION! God does not want to see me miserable. He wants to bring me joy – “My joy made full in themselves” 17:13. Truly glorifying God, brings joy.
As I read the prayer of Jesus for His people, my heart swelled with a sense of how much God loves us. Did His prayer resemble that of a mother leaving her children at school for the first time? Oh how He loves us.
Wow Angie thank you for this prayer
May Your glory Lord fill me, you are the sustainer and creator God! I am so thankful for John 17. Wow. I am so thankful. The Lord is near, He has always been near. || thank you for those that have continued to pray for my pregnancy. We appreciate your prayers SO much. Thank you. ANGIE, AG, ALLISON MITCHELL, TAYLOR, ALI ADAIR, JANIE DIFFLEY, MARIA BAER, VICTORIA E, LYNN FROM ALABAMA, GRAMSIESUE, and many others I am praying for you. I have been moved to tears recently about your requests, you are not alone. The Lord is near, your sisters are here and are praying for you!!! I am so thankful for this community.
Lord, help me each day to see the areas that you want me to give up, be free from, and glorify you. May I truly be your follower and not a follower of the World.
Matthew 16
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For (D)what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or (E)what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Lord, help me each day to see the areas that you want me to give up, be free from, and glorify you. May I truly be your follower and not a follower of the World.
I have always loved John 17, where we get to see the heart of Jesus. And I especially love John 17:20 – knowing that Jesus prayed, and is praying for me — wow! May I be one with the Father and Jesus His Son. Help me Lord to remain in You today and everyday and may Jesus be seen in me.
@Maria Baer – so sorry for your loss. Praying for your family.
@Taylor – continued prayers for you, that you will continue to seek God first and wait for His timing on bringing someone into your life.
Praying for all the requests that were mentioned today. Have a blessed Monday sisters!
Angie this reflection and prayer blessed me today, thank you!
I’m so sorry Maria! What a wonderful life your FIL led. Praying your precious memories of your FIL continue to ease the sadness during your grieving process.
Ooff! This one hit me between the eyes this morning! If we praise God with our lips but chase the world with our lives, we are not actually glorifying God. Lord, help me to praise you and chase you with a pure heart!
Seeing so many women facing a wide variety of circumstances: new students, babies being born, longing for pregnancy, fears around children, feelings of doubt, anxiety. It reminds me how I’m truly never alone. Knowing that there are women all over the world facing similar challenges and coming to the Word every day for their hope and sustaining power is so encouraging.
Our sermon yesterday was on remembering. How when we remember God’s goodness both in our personal lives and where we’ve seen it in others we find a greater faith, hope, and joy apart from our circumstances. When a child falls down and scraps his knee he cries because he doesn’t understand that his pain is so temporary. Though we gain a greater pain tolerance with age we often forget that our pain isn’t eternal either. We must remember who God is and trust Him with our sufferings and longings. A practice I’ve been implementing as I feel those feelings of fear creep in after a year of anxiety is reminding myself all the blessings in my life and all the ways God has redeemed hard things from my past and praising Him for those. Gratitude and anxiety can’t live together in your brain at the same time. So let us remember the pain Jesus endured for us and glorify Him as we navigate our own.
Good morning, sisters— just came by to read our devotional today and thank everyone for their prayers. Sadly, my father-in-law was taken off support and passed away last night. He was surrounded by his loved one. We prayer, played and sang hymns, and talked about what a wonderful human and son of Jesus he was. He fought the good fight, and today’s devotional is so appropriate, because in everything he did, he glorified God. Today I woke up with prayers of praise and thankfulness for the time we had with him and his impact on his family, as well as the community. He was a servant leader for God, and that is what I am focusing on today. Thank you again.
Love this, Karen!
Love this, Karen
“… the moment of glorification coincides with the moment of crucifixion.” How can I live my life in a way that honors both the act of Jesus dying on the cross AND the way in which it was done: to fulfill God’s plan, and enter into His glory.
“The moment of glorification is the moment of crucifixion.” How can l live my life in a way that honors not only what Jesus did for me,
SEARCHING… I got up earlier today… still not as early as I should have, but I’m off to a better start today! I will “Rise and shine, sister!” Thank you for the encouragement! Wow… today, did ya’ll notice that the prayers for the disciples and for us were SO similar? So many repeated themes and words. Made me ponder on which ‘group’ we are in. Even though we are ‘classified’ as ‘all believers’, we identify as ‘disciples’ too. Glorify the Father today, blessed sisters! Be His strong disciple and show others His glory!
Today my daughter in law is being induced for delivery of our grandson, James. I’m asking for God’s Glory to be upon him that he might reflect that Glory in and through his earthly presence.
The reminder in the devotional to not just speak the word, but to live it. How can I LIVE to the glory of God today and not walk towards the world?
Lord, make your presence manifest through me, for Your glory.
I am 31w pregnant and starting to become very anxious over labor and delivery. Prayers please..
Lifting up all the prayer requests this morning! Especially for those struggling with anxiety because you are NOT alone! I’ll be pondering/praying for ways that I can show humble, sacrificial love to those around me in my daily life – that I can be a good witness to God in my actions and words and reflect Him well.
Also thanks again to those who have been praying for me. I’ve started praying before any date I go on that if it’s the Lord’s will He would let it flourish and if not to shut it down to not waste my time/protect my heart. Well the guy I went on a date with last week “ghosted” me over the weekend (hasn’t responded to any text messages or initiated any conversation). The feelings of rejection have not been fun but I thank God because He has made his will clear, and I can rest knowing that ALL things (even this heartache) work together for MY good. He sees past what I cannot. I found peace knowing that even a hard no means I am still walking in God’s will for my life rather than trying to force something that’s my will. Our message yesterday at church was so comforting and I had a nice cleansing cry about everything. I’m ready to start a new week focusing on me and my relationship with the Lord. Trusting in His timing (even when it’s hard). Have a blessed week everyone! <3
Adrienne, I can relate to the struggle of waking up! I tend to hit snooze a couple times, but praying I will be well rested and disciplined to get up the first time! Have a great Monday She’s, praying I would cast all my cares on Jesus, because be cares for me.
Angie, your prayer is so beautiful! I will be praying it this morning. I’m praying for your mom’s surgery and hope all goes well. AG, I am praying that all works out for you and your new student. I do have a request today; I’ve been really struggling with my OCD recently- I had terrible anxiety this weekend, and I would appreciate any prayers for peace, comfort, and surrender to the Lord. Thank you!
Aggressive children are in defense mode. This is how this child learned to protect themself. That is why you have this child. What happened that made them fight and push away everyone? They probably don’t even know, yet. They may just need someone in their corner. Relax. Be excited to see this child. Let the Lord do the rest.
Thank you for those who prayed for our travel Saturday. God is good, all the time.
Mom’s surgery is at 11 am today. His purpose, His plan, His provision…His glory.
We are given the opportunity in this scripture to listen in to the words of Jesus to His Father, God. Stop for just a moment and think about that. Jesus’ time on earth is about to end and He allows us to be a part of His communion with God. That deserves contemplation.
Praying for Himself, Jesus asked to be glorified so that He could glorify God.
He speaks the words of Truth, that He has authority over all flesh, and of His purpose to provide eternal life to everyone God gave Him.
He asks for the glory He had laid down to come to earth to be returned to Him.
He prays for His disciples, confirming that they heard and have believed because the words were from God. They had been protected, but like the world had hated Jesus, it would hate them. He didn’t pray for them to be removed, but protected and sanctified by the truth. Sanctification that only came through Jesus.
Then Jesus prayed for us. For our unity. That we would be with Jesus and see His glory. He prayed for God’s love through Him to live in us.
Jesus prayed for His fulfillment of God’s plan. He prayed for those God gave Him in the present, and He prayed for the people in the future that would be a part of His glory as well.
God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, thank you for your love, example, and guidance. Only You Lord deserve glory, honor, and praise. Use me for Your purpose in this day. May it be as You have planned. For those you give me, may they see You. May my life, words, actions exemplify You. And for the impact the events of this day will have on tomorrows, may love, honor, and glory for You grow and build in the lives of your children through the ages to come. I admit that my heart wants to fully bow, but sometimes my knees grow sore. Too often, I pick up the weight of this world when I rise. I cannot please You, without You. So as my Savior and King prayed to glorify You, Father, I humbly ask Lord, in my little-bit-of-nothingness (that matters to You amazingly) that Your strength and power in my heart would remain bowed and when I rise, it is only in You. In the name and power of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
Asking for a prayer request – I am getting a new student today who has been aggressive in the past. The child went to a different school setting but is returning and being placed in my classroom. I have been pretty anxious thinking about this, but I have also been praying asking for peace over this situation. Please pray that this will go well and can be an opportunity for me to show God’s love to someone who needs it.
“If we praise God with our lips, but chase the world with our lives, then we are not actually glorifying God. His nature, and His love, are not made manifest by our mere words, but by our lifestyles.”
How many times have I heard or said, Actions speak louder than words? I already knew the above quote to be true, and too many times ignore that knowledge. And it’s not just audible words and visible lifestyles that glorify or don’t glorify God, it’s also our attitude and actions toward others, our thoughts, what we do/think/say when we’re in the relative privacy of our car or home. Praying to be more aware.
ADRIENNE – I just have to make myself get up and yes, it’s more difficult on the chilly mornings! I usually give myself a good talking to when I go to bed, and try to get a decent amount of sleep. My whole day is off when I don’t follow through. Rise and shine, sister, you’ve got this!
Praying for all mentioned needs.
Ps – A God of Love would never ask you to stay and “sacrifice” in an abusive relationship, ladies. Never. Ever. Ever. Don’t throw your pearls amongst swine. And emotionally, verbally, and physically abusive behavior is swine behavior. There’s no way around it. You’re too loved by the Father for that.
Lord please use me as a tool to show your love to others, let your light shine through me. If I’m honest, I do not do this well. Often my attempts at Christ like love come of as self righteousness and land on others as judgmental. Lord please mold me into someone who can show true Christ like love to those around me.
I like to think of it this way. God doesn’t ask us to give up much, but when He does it’s for a REALLY good reason – whether that reason is clear to us now or not.
Thank You, Father, for Your Word that was made flesh and dwelt with us and among us. Thank You for revealing who You are through Him and by His example and experience. Thank You for the opportunity to show the world who You are with, in, and through our lives. Help us to seek You and Your will first always. We love You, Lord. Teach us to love You more, to desire Your glory here. May Your kingdom come and will be done here in our lives and in this world. We trust You, Your will, and Your way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“The glory of God is the fullest expression of His character, attributes, and ways. When we give glory to God, we are not simply giving credit to God, but we are directing everyone’s attention to God’s perfect goodness.”
May I bring you glory today, Lord Jesus ❤
Amen