Look at your life. What kind of picture does it portray of the Christian life? Does the likeness in the picture of your life resemble Christ and the fullness of life in Christ? Is it a picture that glorifies God?
The Big Picture of a Life That Glorifies God
For our lives to truly glorify God, the whole of our lives needs to be about Him, for Him, and done through Him. Who we are on Monday at work needs to match who we are on Sunday at church. Who we are around our unsaved friends and family needs to resemble who we are around fellow believers in the Body of Christ.
… whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31)
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Pet. 4:11)
That takes authenticity, not merely speaking or acting the part. Life in Christ can’t be compartmentalized if we truly want our lives to be a picture that glorifies God. And, let’s remember that it isn’t just what we say but how we say it (Eph. 4:15). It isn’t just about what we do but how we do it (Col. 3:17). The big picture of our lives matters.
It begins with what’s in our hearts. — “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. … A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Lk. 6:43-45) — Take time to pray, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23-24)
What Happens When Our Lives Glorify God
When we let our “light shine before others” they see our “good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16). The way we live spurs others on to glorify Him as well.
Sure, we may still have critics and people who continue in their disbelief despite how good of a picture we portray. Let’s not get disheartened. First, glorifying God is about the effect of our lives on Him, not on ourselves. Second, just because people don’t respond as we wished in this lifetime, doesn’t mean it’s been in vain. In the end, all knees will bow in accountability to Him (Rom. 14:11-12). So, “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.” (1 Pet. 2:12)