Glory

Okay so, "Glory" is a topic God 'weighted' my mind to share with y'all a little while back, and thus the little I know I will lay out as clearly as I can.

Some dictionary definitions of 'Glory' are: "High renown or honor won by notable achievements" and "Praise, worship, and thanksgiving offered to God". Personally, I'd put the two together (editing them a bit) to get a fuller meaning to the word as such: "The high renown or honor deserved and won by God, giving Him via praise, worship and thanksgiving.". All Glory belongs to God; giving to any other is simply misplaced 'sights'. It is helpful to remember that Pride is a feeling of self-respect and personal worth born by a person and usually unconsciously geared at drawing (stealing) attention away from God to the one.

What's the point? Glory brings Acknowledgement, Honor and Respect, and causes a Confession and Admittance to Another's Abilities. Who then deserves it? Isaiah 42:8, KJV - "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." I believe the question is thus answered, unfortunately though, we end up giving it to men instead.

In Acts chapter 12, there's a story of Herod who accepted the glory he did not deserve. He became so full of pride that the result of 'stealing' undeserved glory led to his demise while the Word of God continued to spread.

Acts 12:21-24, KJV:

"And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied."

In Daniel chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar is the culprit. He goes and glories in himself and ends up with the 'blessing' of temporal insanity - he becomes like an animal.

Daniel 4:29-34, KJV:

"At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles 'feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:"

You see, the thing is, God is a jealous God who will not hesitate to reign down punishment on any offender. Nahum 1:2, KJV - "God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies." Joshua 24:19, KJV - "And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins."

Talents and gifts are all given of God and thus all glory obtained from them should be redirected to Him without a double thought or risk punishment. James 1:17, KJV - "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Be careful to give God the Glory due Him, not sometimes, but... always.

~ yoyo

~ inspiredwordz

~ May 8, 2015 ; 8:28 am