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.
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.
♥️