This Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.
We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.
Please show respect and consideration for our fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name-calling, ridicule, insults, baiting, and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.
In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores, and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.
Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here:
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/
Glory to God 2
Created for God’s Glory (Isaiah 43:7)
Isaiah 43:7 “. . . everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Glory to God in the highest . . .
So, how is it that God is glorified through us? There are many ways to do this but let’s look at just one way we can glorify God.
GLORIFY GOD BY BELIEVING IN HIM
If the chief end of man is to glorify God, then this is only truly possible when we are most satisfied in Him. Straight away we see something significant here. When we think of praise or glory that is given to someone, sometimes it can be of gratitude and other times we can think of it as a chore, or something we need to do in order to obtain favor. When we think of giving glory to God, we can often and very easily fall into the trap of thinking of it as a demand and that, it just has to be done.
From the Christian and Biblical viewpoint this is the very opposite of the intent. We fail to understand that everything God requires of us is “ultimately” for our good. God is for us and not against us. In order to fully fulfill the reason for our creation, then what God’s Word says is that; it is only when we glorify God, fulfilling our very purpose – it is then and only then that our souls are truly satisfied, feel complete and fulfilled. Anything outside of this will keep us wanting and unfulfilled, no matter what and how we try to fill that hole. By glorifying God, we are pursuing our joy in Him.
In order for us to come to the place of pursuing our joy in Him and glorying God, it is essential for us to be saved. We must come in repentance of our sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ through faith in Him, accepting the free gift of the sacrifice of the Christ on the cross as an atonement for our sins.
In this way we will stand justified before God the Father. Hebrews 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and the He rewards those who seek Him.”
If we reject the reason for our creation, which is to glorify God, and we reject Christ by not believing in His Name, then God’s Word also explains and shows us the outcome of pursuing our satisfaction outside of God. Jeremiah 2:12-13 says “Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” God’s Word says that God is against anyone that does not seek their joy in God.
Again in Deuteronomy 28:47-48 saying “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you.” And this is exactly what some people are doing. Worshiping their enemy.
Our ultimate enemy is Satan, and those without faith are enslaved to do the things that are of him and not of God. Those who are not of God, are in fact serving the purpose of their enemy – the devil, who wants to completely destroy us and keep us from the Father in heaven.
So, for those in this situation, wake up and do not serve our enemy any longer, but serve the living God who is for us and not against us. As it says in 1 Corinthians 15:34 “Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning.”
The word of God shows us the path that we should take in order to find our joy in God. When we pursue this joy in Christ, then it will lead us to glorify God. When we believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we will find our ultimate joy in Him. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”, and again in Psalm 100:1-2 saying “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!”
So by believing, we not only glorify God and find our fulfillment in Christ, but there is also great joy in doing so.
But it does not stop at only believing; this is just the beginning. The life that pleases and glorifies God is one that “keeps on growing in knowledge”. It is continually seeking to know God better.
At this point, a misunderstanding needs clarification. Growing in the knowledge of God is not the same as seeking to learn how to get more out of God for our own selfish needs. Don’t fall into the mentality of only being concerned with how we can tap into God’s resources, only to get prayers answered (the way we want to), and how to get God to meet our needs the way we want to, and banish all of our problems away. Is this truly loving God or is it really loving ourselves?
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!
*endofthematter.com
On this day and every day –
God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up
Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.
“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
