370-The Lord's Prayer Series 11 - Abundant Glory#
370-The Lord's Prayer Series 11 - Abundant Glory
(JP Text Group - shalom organized)
Dear family, peace in the Lord, welcome to your arrival, and let's continue sharing the Lord's Prayer series.
Sharing the eleventh lesson of the Lord's Prayer: Abundant Glory.
Matthew 6:9-13:
9 Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. 10 May your kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen!
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for preparing such a wonderful time for us to come before you. You teach us how to pray and tell us that you are a God full of authority, power, and glory. Whatever we ask of you, you will answer us. You have the ability and are willing to respond to us, allowing us to always have hope on earth. In you, there is abundant glory, and through these words, comfort the hearts of every brother and sister, so that those who seek may find satisfaction in you. Thank you and praise the Lord, in the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.
The eleventh lesson of the Lord's Prayer: Abundant Glory
What is glory? It can be understood as: reputation, honor, fame, prestige, dignity, rewards, etc.
Glory is the pursuit and longing for one's own value. Everyone desires to be respected, recognized, and noticed by others; this is the glory that the Lord has placed in people when He created them. The glory of the earth is earned through one's own efforts and achievements. For example, doing good deeds and being praised and celebrated by the local people, becoming a model for everyone to learn from.
However, heavenly glory is not obtained in this way. The glory of believers is obtained through Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world on the cross; the world gave its sins to Jesus, and Jesus gave glory to those who believe in Him. When a person accepts the Lord Jesus, the glory of Jesus is upon that person, and that person possesses the image of Christ. From God's perspective, He sees that person as He sees Christ. Initially, humanity fell short of God's glory.
Romans 3:23-24
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
When God first created man, Adam was filled with God's glory; he was made in the image of God. But they disobeyed God's word, believed the devil's words, and ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, glory disappeared. Adam and Eve realized they were naked; before this, they did not need to wear worldly clothes, as they were filled with God's glory. After sinning, glory was lost. In God's eyes, all have sinned and fall short of His glory, leading to toil and trouble.
Genesis 3:22-23:
22 And the Lord God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil; he must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
In this passage, after Adam sinned, he had the ability to distinguish good from evil like God, but his discernment was not based on God's righteous standards. People distinguish good from evil using their own standards. After they sinned, God did not want them to continue eating from the tree of life. Some may ask why God is so stingy and does not allow Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of life. The reason is simple: if Adam and Eve ate from the tree of life, they would live forever with sin, which is not a blessing but a curse!
When Adam believed the devil's words, he chose to rely on his own efforts to obtain blessings and glory. At this point, Adam's heart was already filled with sin, so God had to expel them from the Garden of Eden. If sinners ate from the tree of life, they would live forever in curse and suffering. God ended human sin with death. After Adam left the Garden of Eden, he began to toil hard, which is what happens to those who have lost God's glory; they often worry and sweat just to make a living.
After Jesus came, people saw God's glory in Him, saw God's works and honor, and Jesus was also willing to give this glory to people, as long as they believed in Him. Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross, and those who believe can be justified freely. This means that previously we fell short of God's glory and sinned, but Jesus came and paid the price for our sins, giving us His grace. Jesus has glory, righteousness, and holiness, and He gave us His robe of righteousness, allowing us to stand before God clothed in Christ's righteousness, justified freely. Therefore, the glory we possess is all from Jesus Christ. Hallelujah.
Sharing the first point: Accepting Jesus as Lord grants him God's honor.
John 1:12-14:
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Regardless of a person's past achievements or fame, as long as they are willing to accept Jesus as their Savior, God grants them honor, making them children of God. As long as they believe in Jesus, God gives them the authority to become children of God, possessing God's glory, being princes and princesses of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the Son of God; people see His identity, power, and glory in Him, which is the appearance of the Son of God. God sees you the same way. Hallelujah.
Our outward physical body is earthly, but the spiritual life within is filled with God's glory; you are a person honored by God. In the past, without accepting Jesus, we were just dust, but now it is different. The Holy Spirit dwells within you; you have been honored by God and lifted up by Him. Hallelujah! That is God's glory, the glory of Jesus Christ, upon you.
Ephesians 1:3-6:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In Christ, he has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
In the glory of Christ, we have various spiritual blessings. The glory of the earth requires you to rely on achievements and hard work to obtain it; but the glory in Christ, all blessings are not earned by your efforts but are given to us by Jesus. The glory God gives us is real, not superficial; it is not about spending a few dollars to write a certificate. It is real heavenly blessings. For example, the authority, power, holiness, and righteousness of Jesus are upon you. Jesus once said, "The works that I do, those who believe in me will also do, and even greater works than these will they do." When Jesus was on earth, He preached the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, taught people, and healed various diseases. Many who believe in Jesus Christ can also do these things after understanding this, which reveals God's glory.
Helping others with love, doing what seems impossible by oneself, such as loving enemies, reveals the glory of Jesus, because these are things Jesus has done. Glory is filled with God's power; it is He who gives you the ability to do these things, manifesting the glory of the Father. We receive various spiritual blessings from God in Jesus Christ because you already have a glorious identity. God is willing to give you all these. Before the foundation of the world, God saw us, chose us, and allowed us to be holy and blameless before Him through Jesus.
This statement may seem a bit abstract because He transcends time and space. Some may say, "I hadn't sinned before the foundation of the world." In God's realm, there is no concept of time and space; He only has one present. Therefore, He can see what people call the past, present, and future, knowing our problems. Thus, He has prepared glory to give us, allowing us to be holy and blameless before Him. No matter how you view your physical self, in the spiritual realm, you should see yourself filled with the glory of Christ. Within that glory are God's abundant blessings and various spiritual blessings, which every believer in Jesus possesses, not just those who are devout.
Some may ask, "Why haven't I seen it?" Perhaps you have a limited understanding of the truth of Jesus. The more you know, the more you understand. I encourage everyone to read the Bible more to know what kind of glory God wants to give you and what kind of abundant blessings He wants to bestow upon you! He loves us and, according to His pleasure, has allowed us to receive this sonship, which is our glory. Regardless of who we belonged to in the past or what our identity was, now you belong to the Father; you are a child of the Father, and that is glory.
If we use an analogy from the world, in the past, we were just common people. One day, the king of the country found you and accepted you as his son. From then on, you became a prince, and you have the aura of a prince. In the spiritual realm, you need to see this. In the past, we were under the devil's bondage, belonging to the world, thinking only of worldly matters. One day, after accepting Jesus, God granted you the identity of His Son and also bestowed upon you the glory of His Son. You are filled with the glory of Christ. Knowing this, you can live out the glory of Christ. Hallelujah!
You will live a different life. When you have problems, you can pray to our Heavenly Father. We are His children; as long as we call out "Abba," He will help us. It is not because of our achievements or piety that God blesses us and hears our prayers, but because we are His children, and the identity of a son is freely given to us. He has given us His glory, and because of this glory, angels are ministering spirits sent for you. The world and all things are for your use. What is the purpose? To manifest God's glory through you. Hallelujah!
Those who belong to God do what Jesus did because we are filled with the glory of Christ. All these are given to us by God in Christ. Hallelujah! This is God's grace. Thank you and praise the Lord. God, through Christ, makes us holy and blameless, providing us with everything we need each day. Meditating on this often will help you realize that you are not an ordinary person; you are a heavenly person, a person of Christ. At any time and in any place, you can pray to God, and He will surely listen to your prayers and guide your path ahead. Amen.
Sharing the second point: When we give glory to God, He returns glory to us.
The Old Testament records a king named Nebuchadnezzar. God granted him the throne, authority, honor, and majesty. The Israelites sinned and forsook God, and God used foreign kings to discipline them. Of course, it was only discipline, not to destroy them. However, Nebuchadnezzar and his sons thought they were capable, powerful, and strong, acting arrogantly and treating the Israelites harshly. As a result, God took away their glory, and their hearts became like those of beasts. After seven years, his sanity was restored.
Daniel 5:18-21:
18 "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, power, glory, and splendor. 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes."
This is a prophetic part of the book of Daniel. When reading this, we can see it is the history of the Israelites. Nebuchadnezzar was a foreign king who may not have believed in God, but God had clearly revealed Himself to him through His servant at that time. However, Nebuchadnezzar did not take it seriously. The Bible records many such kings who did not take it seriously, such as Pharaoh of Egypt. How can the glory and authority of people on earth contend with God? Our God, seeing these actions of man, may sometimes just smile and pass.
Now it is Nebuchadnezzar's son who has made the same mistake. God's servant told him, "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, power, glory, and splendor." Brothers and sisters, have you ever thought that the glory, honor, good reputation, and power we can obtain are actually given by God? If people knew that these were given by God, they would not be arrogant. The same is true in Christ; gifts, abilities, and reputation are all given by God. If one thinks it is their own ability, they will become arrogant.
At that time, God exalted Nebuchadnezzar and gave him great authority. To what extent? All peoples, nations, and men of every language trembled and feared before him. He could put to death or spare at will. God gave him authority, and he could use that authority. If Nebuchadnezzar was like this, then we, as servants of Christ or children of God, possess such authority. Of course, it is not the authority to kill or spare; we have the authority to bless others, heal others, and bring the gospel to others.
However, many people do not understand that this authority and glory are given by God. Nebuchadnezzar was proud and obstinate, not believing in spiritual matters, acting arrogantly, and treating the Israelites harshly, which led to his dethronement. You see, those kings in the world who feel powerful think they are great, but in reality, the true King belongs to Jesus Christ. Nebuchadnezzar was stripped of his throne and glory; when he came down from the throne, the glory disappeared. Therefore, brothers and sisters, do not pursue worldly glory; that is fleeting glory that can vanish at any moment. But the glory God gives us is heavenly glory, abundant glory, and eternal glory. Hallelujah!
Nebuchadnezzar was driven out and left among men. To people, he seemed to have lost his mind and ended up living in the mountains with animals, eating grass like cattle, with long nails, and sleeping in the wilderness. To people, he seemed mad! His son succeeded him as king. Nebuchadnezzar spent seven years in the wilderness, finally realizing that the Most High God rules in the kingdoms of men. I hope brothers and sisters understand this; do not always complain about things or feel unfair; just pray to God.
Know one thing: the Most High God rules in the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone He wishes. Hallelujah! When people do not give glory to God, it is not that God loses glory, but that people become arrogant and ruin their own glory. The Bible records many people who, because they do not know God and do not know themselves, seize God's glory and ultimately lose everything. Such people serve as our cautionary tales.
For example, Solomon's glory was quite great, whether from any perspective. The honor, wealth, power, and reputation God gave him reached their peak. When he achieved these, he became self-inflated, disregarding God, and began to rely on himself. When he grew old, he realized that all of this was vanity; he had lost the most important thing.
Reading Ecclesiastes and Proverbs reveals that Solomon regretted the time he wasted in his life. Therefore, do not waste our time; we should spend our time in the most meaningful places, receiving God's glory, receiving the grace of Jesus Christ, and sharing His gospel with more people. This is valuable. Even in the world, people recognize such things. Do not be like Solomon, pursuing better play and better food, trying various ways to enjoy life, only to lose God. This is not worth it, brothers and sisters, because when he did not give glory to God, he forgot who he was.
Acts 12:21-24:
21 On the appointed day, Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
What happened? The Bible mentions four generations of the Herod family, each leaving behind their sins and marks:
Herod the Great killed the infants in Bethlehem;
Herod Antipas participated in the trial of Jesus and executed John the Baptist;
Herod Agrippa I killed the apostle James;
Herod Agrippa II participated in the trial of Paul.
In the Bible, they are all referred to as Herod, but they belong to the Herod family. Herod Agrippa I had Jewish noble blood; his grandmother was Mariamne, the wife of Herod the Great. He had a relatively good relationship with the Jews. When Emperor Caligula ascended to the throne, he made him king of Judea. After Caligula died, he regained all the territories of his grandfather Herod the Great under the favor of the new emperor Claudius, and he was called a client king.
Agrippa I, in order to please the Jews, persecuted the church, killed the apostle James, and imprisoned Peter. Soon, Agrippa I made a grave mistake. In Caesarea, he wore shiny royal robes and allowed the people to proclaim him as a god, completely seizing God's glory and calling himself a god. As a result, he was struck down by worms and died, ending his absurd life. If a person seizes God's glory, they will ultimately gain nothing. However, when a person gives glory to God, they instead receive eternal glory.
At that time, the twelve disciples did not fully understand glory. They also had these small earthly thoughts. One day, Peter asked Jesus, "We have left everything to follow you. What then will there be for us?"
Let's look at Matthew 19:27-29:
27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you. What then will there be for us?" 28 Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."
At first, the twelve disciples thought about gaining glory, but they were thinking of earthly glory. They heard that Jesus was a king, the Son of God, and they were eager to be close to Him, especially Peter, who perhaps was not respected on earth and hoped to be given a position. He asked Jesus, "Since it is so hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven because they have things they are unwilling to give up, we are different; we have left everything to follow you."
In fact, Peter's statement contained a bit of self-righteousness. If he had as much money as the rich young ruler, he might not have followed Jesus. It was precisely because he was not very wealthy and was at a low point in life that Jesus found him, and he was willing to follow Jesus. He saw Jesus say how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!
Peter said, "I am different; I have left everything to follow you. But what will I gain in the future?" In reality, Peter was still thinking about earthly glory, saying, "When you become king, surely I should get a share of the kingdom, right? What can I gain?" People actually have this heart; when they give a little, they want to receive more in return. This is earthly glory. Jesus answered him, not with earthly glory.
In verse 28, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne." This refers to the future, after the second coming of Jesus Christ. He did not promise him earthly glory. Therefore, if you believe in Jesus and seek earthly glory, it may be a bit difficult. If you want to gain earthly glory, you must rely on your own efforts, which may lead to arrogance like Nebuchadnezzar. But if you do not seek earthly glory, but only heavenly glory, then it will be different; you will act in everything for the glory of Christ.
This understanding came to Peter after Pentecost. At that moment, the disciples' understanding of Jesus was still limited, still focused on earthly glory. It was only after Jesus died and rose again and returned, and the Holy Spirit entered the hearts of these apostles, that they finally understood that all of this on earth is merely temporary. The apostle Paul was able to abandon all earthly glory, viewing the world and everything in it as dung, because he saw the true, eternal glory in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
We should also have this vision. At the renewal of all things, the Son of Man will sit on the glorious throne; that is the scene in the kingdom of heaven. And what about these twelve disciples? They will also sit on twelve thrones. If God has made you a king, and you reign with Jesus Christ, what more do you need? This glory cannot be bought with money. Therefore, on earth, we are willing to give for the Lord, and the glory God will give you cannot be bought with money. In the kingdom of heaven, no one can bribe. Therefore, the rewards and glory we receive in the future will definitely be related to our actions.
Although when we believe in Jesus, we have already received the robe of righteousness and the glory of Christ, while we give for the Lord on earth, God will also reward you. Hallelujah! Just like Peter and the others, who followed Jesus and ultimately were martyred for the Lord, Jesus said, "You will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Verse 29 is for us: "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."
This is a kind of abundant glory. When we follow Jesus, especially those who serve full-time, dedicating their entire energy and money to the Lord, some sell their houses for missions, and some have not even bought these things, spending their energy on serving and helping others. They cannot take care of their brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, children, or fields; they have no time to think about these things. God knows what they have done for the Lord and will surely give them a hundredfold. This hundredfold does not mean they will receive a hundred houses or a hundred brothers, but refers to the abundant glory and blessings God gives them.
Although they may not often be able to enjoy harmonious moments with their families, they have many brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and children in the church. All who believe in Jesus and are served by them become their brothers, sisters, fathers, and children. Therefore, they receive a hundredfold blessing, which is spiritual. Amen!
The hundredfold blessing is on earth, and they will also inherit eternal life. The eternal life here refers to the abundant rewards God will give them. Serving the Lord is to glorify Jesus, and the more we receive, the more God is a fair God who will never shortchange anyone. Amen. Brothers and sisters, remember how we should act.
Luke 17:11-19:
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
All ten lepers received healing from Jesus, but only one returned to give glory to God. What does "giving glory to God" mean? This person knew it was God's grace, returned to thank Jesus, and fell at Jesus' feet to thank Him, recognizing that God's grace had come upon him. He was willing to give the glory of his healing to Jesus and did not feel it was a matter of course. The other nine were also healed but did not have a grateful heart. After receiving healing, they left without any further action. The Bible does not record where they went, but this one Samaritan returned to thank Jesus. In thanking Jesus, he was actually giving glory to God.
Do not guess wildly; God will not punish the other nine for not returning to thank Him by giving them diseases again. No, God is not a God who gives diseases. Those people also received God's grace; they just left. But this foreign Samaritan returned to thank Jesus and received God's abundant glory once again. Jesus said to that man, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." He not only received physical healing but also followed Jesus, believed in Jesus, and became a child of God. The glory of Jesus was upon him. Hallelujah!
Therefore, every time we give glory to God, we actually receive blessings and the ability to do things from God again, and God grants you glory once more. In other words, if you do not give glory to God, God does not acknowledge it as glory, and you will lose everything. If you give glory to God, He does not want your glory; instead, He will grant you glory again.
This is particularly similar to the principle of the five loaves and two fish and offerings. The child brought five loaves and two fish to Jesus. Jesus did not eat the five loaves and two fish but blessed them, and they became food for many. The child received blessings greater than the five loaves and two fish. This is how we understand God's glory. Of course, the scope of God's glory is very broad; whatever you need is abundantly supplied in Him.
For example, Peter wanted to help and serve people like Jesus. Jesus said that in the future, he would sit on one of the twelve thrones judging the Israelites. God knows what he wants. Those who serve the Lord should have this vision. No matter how big your ministry is or how many gifts you have, do not think it is your ability; it is the ability of Jesus upon you. When the ministry bears fruit, you should give glory to God, saying, "This is not what we did; this is what Jesus did." Hallelujah!
Many people easily stumble in this regard. When others praise them, they genuinely feel it is their own glory and ability, becoming arrogant and speaking boastfully. We should not do this. At all times, remember that no matter how many miracles you perform or how many people you comfort, it is Jesus working through us. We should give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, Hallelujah, and not boast about these achievements and glory. God will remember our contributions and turn them into rewards for us, lasting forever. Hallelujah.
Matthew 6:1-2:
1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."
Jesus tells us how to obtain the abundant glory of the kingdom of heaven. The glory here refers to rewards. Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. The focus is not on how to do good deeds but on the heart of the doer. Some people do a little good and are afraid others won't see it, so they boast everywhere, promoting how great their abilities are and what they have done in the past, lying on their laurels for just one or two deeds.
We should not do this; this is to be seen by others. If it is like this, God's reward is gone because they are doing it to gain human praise. Therefore, the motivation for helping and serving others is very important. If it is not to gain praise from others, God will remember you and leave you with heavenly glory and rewards. If you do things just to be praised for your eloquence, looks, or abilities, seeking human praise, that is earthly glory.
What does verse 2 say? "So when you give to the needy..."
Giving is helping others. When you help others, "do not announce it with trumpets." This means, "I have done such and such things in the past; I have been to such and such places; I have healed so many people; I have so many gifts; I can do this and that..." This is blowing the trumpet! This is what hypocrites do. They give and pray while standing in the synagogues and on the streets. Why stand in those places? Because there are many people. Doing good deeds in front of many people is to be seen by them. They have already received their reward.
Therefore, what we do behind the scenes is remembered by God.
Many Christians quietly help and serve others without seeking any return or forcing others to repay them. They just do it before God, regardless of whether others understand or not. Such people are remembered by God, and such actions will also be remembered by God. God will grant them glory. I hope brothers and sisters know that our God is a fair and just God. He knows our hearts.
Therefore, I encourage everyone to pursue that heavenly glory, abundant glory. Do not look at the good or bad evaluations of people on earth. Our hearts should be upright. If our hearts are filled with evil thoughts, even if others praise us sincerely, we will feel uncomfortable. Therefore, our hearts should be upright, doing things to help others. God will remember! If people do not understand, God understands. God knows all things in this world. Amen!
Let’s look at Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31-33:
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Brothers and sisters, if we are willing to live a life that glorifies God, you will also be liked by people on earth. This glory is not something you chase after telling others; it is something others will remember in their hearts. Hallelujah! Paul said, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Originally, Paul ate meat, but if some people did not eat meat, Paul would refrain from eating meat for the sake of those people, so they would not stumble. Some things he would not do; this is the fruit of the Spirit's self-control. The reason for self-control is to prevent others from stumbling! Others will say, "This believer is indeed different." Paul could give glory to our Heavenly Father. If someone says, "Since we have received grace, it doesn't matter how we live," that seizes God's glory, making it seem that believing in Jesus is not as good as the world.
Therefore, whether we eat or drink, our actions should set an example for the world, helping and building others up like Jesus. Hallelujah! Paul made it very clear that he sought to please everyone in everything, not seeking his own benefit but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
How do conflicts arise between people? They all seek their own benefit, not the benefit of others. Conversely, if everyone seeks the benefit of others and not their own, then blessings will come from God. Hallelujah! I hope everyone can understand this spiritual principle.
2 Corinthians 4:15-18:
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Paul was very clear in his heart. He had a considerable understanding of the truth. The reason he abandoned the riches of this world and devoted his life to serving Jesus and the church was to live for the glory of God because he knew better than anyone else that this path is the most meaningful one!
What Paul did was for the betterment of believers, so that God's grace would be more evident in the lives of these brothers and sisters, leading them to thank God more and more, thereby giving glory to God. While Paul was doing these things, he also faced dangers and many hardships, but he did not lose heart. He knew that God is a just God and understood that although his outward body would perish, his inner life was growing day by day. He also knew that the troubles he faced on earth were only temporary because God would give him an eternal glory that far outweighs them all!
We do not know what kind of abundant rewards and glory God will give to Paul in the future, but I believe it will be something that others will envy, and we also feel that Paul deserves it because he has given so much. Brothers and sisters, rewards are related to actions; this is God's justice. Believing can lead to salvation, but how we live after salvation is crucial. Are we living for our own glory or for the glory of Christ?
We can make a choice. If we live for the glory of Christ, the more we live out the glory, the greater the rewards God will give us in the future. This is related to our actions. Do not think that after believing in the Lord, God will give us all blessings, rewards, and glory without us doing anything. No, in terms of rewards, it is not like that.
Rewards are related to actions, and actions arise from glorifying Jesus Christ. If a person does things for their own glory, there is no glory or reward from God. What Paul cared about was not what is seen. In other words, if Paul desired praise and acclaim from people, he would not preach the gospel because he would have already received it. What he cared about was the unseen because he knew the spiritual world is more real than the current worldly one. This world is temporary, while that world is eternal. Therefore, he devoted everything to the Lord and his life to the Lord, believing it was worth it. He knew that God would surely grant him abundant glory. Hallelujah! I hope brothers and sisters can understand Paul's heart.
Finally, let’s look at a passage from 1 Peter 2:11-15:
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
Peter speaks quite directly. He believes that once a person believes in Jesus, they should realize that our homeland is not on this earth; we are merely foreigners and exiles. Therefore, do not plan for your flesh; abstain from sinful desires. Those sinful desires are all for one's own benefit, not for the benefit of others. Conversely, these sinful desires wage war against the soul, opposing the blessings and glory in God's kingdom.
The blessings in God's kingdom are: not seeking one's own benefit but the benefit of others. Therefore, Peter wants to admonish all believers in Jesus to live good lives among the pagans. Everyone knows what it means to live a good life, right? It means that everyone thinks your behavior is good, that you are not wicked, that you are relatively upright and trustworthy. This is already living out the image of Christ.
"So that those who slander you as evildoers may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." Some people may spread rumors about you, saying you are a terrible person...
One day, they truly get to know that person, and they say, "Oh, the rumors were wrong." Amen! They see your good deeds and can give glory to God! Hallelujah! In fact, no matter which apostle speaks in the end, they all hope we receive abundant rewards from heaven, which means that on earth, since we believe in the gospel, we should live out good deeds through the gospel.
There are indeed many unjust people in this world, many things we cannot tolerate, but these are merely temporary. God's will is for us to do good; if others do not do good, we should do it. If others are unfair, we should be fair. You cannot say, "Since everyone around me is terrible, I will live like them." You are a child of God, filled with the glory of Christ, and therefore you can live a different life. This is called a holy life. When others see that you are different, they can give glory to God. Hallelujah!
Giving glory to God through good deeds, God will not take away your glory in the future; He will grant you the part that glorifies God again, becoming your reward! Hallelujah! I hope today's sharing brings some help to everyone. Let us set our sights above and pursue greater glory above, which is eternal, will not fade, will not perish, and is a glorious crown.
Let us pray together
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for giving us such words. Through the Lord's Prayer, you tell us that authority and glory are yours. The glory given from you is eternal. We do not pursue the praise of men on earth, nor do we deliberately seek to be praised by others; we act only for the glory of Christ, for the glory you give us is eternal.
Heavenly Father, please give me such a heart, allowing me to receive this glory, power, and love of Christ to help more people around me, seeking no return, only for their benefit, so they can know the grace of Jesus Christ. Grant me more gifts to do such good deeds that can give glory to you. All glory belongs to you, no matter how many people I have helped; this is what you have done, not what I have done. It is you working through me. I have no ability; all of this is done by the Holy Spirit through me. I am willing to give this glory to you. Thank you and praise the Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen!