Knowing and Enjoying God 7

As we’ve observed, God encourages us to know Him. Add to this the challenge of the Westminister Catechism which asks: “What is the chief end of man?” Answer. “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.” Know God. Glorify God. Emjoy God.

Let’s examine the glorifying of God. 1 Peter 4:11 tells us: Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever!

What does it mean to “glorify God?”A simple answer is found in l Corinthians 10:31. So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Instead. our natural tendency is to “do it” for the glory of self. Examine this with me, allowing the following adaptation of Thomas Watson’s writings to enlighten us.

Glorifying God consists in four things: 1. Appreciation, 2. Adoration, 3. Affection, 4. Subjection. Watson says, “This is the yearly rent we pay to the crown of heaven.”

1. Appreciation. To glorify God is to set God highest in our thoughts and to have a venerable esteem of him. Psalm 92:8. "Thou, Lord, art most high for evermore." Psalm 97:9, "Thou art exalted far above all gods." We glorify God when we are God-admirers; admire his attributes, which are the glistening beams by which the divine nature shines forth. To glorify God is to have God-admiring thoughts; to esteem him most excellent.

2. Glorifying God consists in adoration, or worship. Psalm 29:2. "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Worship Him formally in church gatherings. Worship Him spontaneously throughout the day.

3. Affection. This is part of the glory we give to God, who counts himself glorified when he is loved. Deut. 6:5, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul." A love of delight, as a man takes delight in a friend. This is to love God indeed; the heart is set upon God, as a man's heart is set upon his treasure. This love is exuberant, not a few drops, but a stream. To love God is to glorify him. He who is the chief of our happiness has the chief of our affections.

4. Subjection. This is when we dedicate ourselves to God, and stand ready dressed for his service. “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Glorify God “TO” enjoy Him forever.

Have a great weekend of glorifying and enjoying God more profusely.