Glory

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)

          The question of God’s glory has been creeping around the edges of my mind for a few days. What is it? What does it look like? Sometimes, we seem to think that His glory is light so bright that we can’t even look at it. I’m not saying that’s wrong, but if God’s glory is a bright light, how do we glorify God? Do we add to the light? How could we? Do we point to the light?

          The next round of answers is that we glorify God by praising Him for who He is and thanking Him for what He has done. We point to His glory. We advertise Him for being who He is and doing what He does. In other words, we glorify God for being God. If God were to try to be someone or something other than God, He would glorify that person or thing. If we try to insist that God be someone or something other than what He is and does, we glorify the other and reject God’s glory.

          Bringing it down to our level, when we are who we were created to be, and do what we were created to do, in a sense, we can rightly glory. But we don’t tend to do that. Instead of celebrating, “I am God’s creation,” we look at someone, or something else (even God) and grumble, “Why can’t I be like _____?” We want their glory, even if the only way it fits is strapped on over one knee or falls off because it’s ten sizes too big. Either way, we end up naked, glory-less.

          What would it be like to be content to be who we are, to be content to give God glory and not worry about our own? I can think of several words to describe it: scary, humbling, and freeing. Maybe even glorious.