![[Photo of a Scripture verse]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/John_17_1.jpg)
| “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” |
| —John 6:32-33, 7:1 |
A wise person once opined, “Life is one long learning experience.” I’ve certainly found that statement accurately describes my life. I suspect it describes your life, as well. So, every single day, you and I are engaged in learning how to live our lives in a way that will be more effective, more productive, and more worthy of the life to which God has called us.
Fortunately, we have a major teacher in the person of God’s own Son, Jesus. Not only is He our Lord, Savior, and soon-coming King, He is the best possible teacher because He “put on our flesh and walked in our bones,” as librettist Helen Kromer wrote in the song, “I’m Nothing, Nobody, No One” from the musical For Heaven’s Sake.
For example, please note these words of Jesus to His disciples, as recorded in John 6:32-33, 7:1:
“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”
Here Jesus states that His principal purpose is to glorify His Father. Without meaning to state something in a trite way, I might say, “Good enough for Jesus—good enough for us.”
If Jesus intended to do everything in His life to glorify God, then that would be exactly the way we should live our lives as well. Thus, as we begin another day, let’s examine our actions to make certain that everything we do is done in such a way that it brings glory to God.
Do we want to achieve our personal and work goals in life? Do those goals bring glory to God? Then, let’s move forward, making certain that every step we take to achieve our goals is done in a way that glorifies God—no shortcuts, no deceit, no treachery, just diligent hard work.
Do we want our marriage to be a happy, soul-enriching experience for our spouses and for ourselves? The, let’s pursue that goal in a way that honors God and brings glory to Him.
If God has called us to a life of singleness, do we want to live such a life in a way that displays enthusiastic acceptance of this calling and, thus, brings glory to God as we follow every direction that He provides for us? Then, we should walk the pathway of our lives in such a way that we constantly examine each opportunity and choose those that will distinctly and purposefully bring honor to the God who loves us.
In fact, in every area of our lives, this day and every day, let’s live in a way that will glorify the God who loves us with His unfailing, undying love.
