DAILY E-MAIL SIGN UP
PRINTER FRIENDLY
FONT SIZE 
One music professor described Johann Sebastian Bach as “arguably the greatest composer in the history of Western music and a man whose staunch Lutheran faith informed his life, his career, and his view of music. He believed that music was a 'refreshment of spirit,' as some of the title pages of his works stated. He believed that music was a powerful tool for the proclamation of the gospel, as his cantatas, Passions, organ chorales, and other compositions clearly show. And ultimately, he believed that music brought glory to God, as the initials SDG (Soli Deo Gloria, 'To God alone be glory') at the end of most of his scores bear witness.”
Soli Deo Gloria. Giving God glory is at the center of the worship-filled life. A familiar statement of faith reminds us that the purpose of humanity is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” But what does this really mean? How can we bring glory to the One who is already infinitely glorious? The goal in our study this month is to deepen our understanding of what it means to glorify God and to motivate us toward more disciplined and passionate living for His glory. The devotions are divided into three main sections. Initially, we'll consider biblical passages on praise and worship, since exalting God's name is certainly one way to bring Him glory. Second, we'll take a look at what kinds of actions glorify the Lord and why. Finally, we'll examine passages from the Gospel of John for lessons from the life of Christ about what it means to glorify God.
In Psalm 86, the writer is weak, trusting, in trouble, and needs mercy, while God is forgiving, loving, compassionate, patient, and faithful. David longed for the joy, strength, and mercy that only God can give. At the very center of the psalm
(vv. 8-10), we find His transcendence, incomparable greatness, and right to
universal worship. “I will glorify your name forever” is the only possible
response (v. 12)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In order to pray as David did in today's psalm, we need to cultivate a knowledge and appreciation of God's attributes and character. David's praise flowed from a deep knowledge of Scripture and a deep love for the Lord. If God is indeed to be glorified in our lives, we need to pursue the same spiritual unity of head and heart found in the psalms of David. One way to unite your Bible study and prayer time is to pray through this psalm, using the words of Scripture to express the desires of your heart.
| < Previous Day | Next Day > |
