God’s Glory: What Part Do We Play?
“No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” Psalm 84: 11b.
Psalm 84 is a joyful song of praise expressing deep longing for God’s presence, the beauty of temple worship, and the ultimate blessing found in trusting God. And verse 11 gives us a breathtaking promise, but with a condition.
To read the entire psalm for context, click here.
When we are upright, and consequently have no good thing withheld, it glorifies God. In much the same way a parent is glorified when her children have all their needs met and have great welfare.
Do Our Lives Promote God’s Glory?
When we see a child who’s blessed, it’s natural to think the parents must have done a good job. So, when we have no good thing withheld from us, it glorifies God, but the converse is also true.
If because of our sin that we have not allowed God to purge, we are afflicted and poor and sick and miserable, this does not glorify God.
In fact, it sends a horrible message to the world about our Heavenly Father. Unbelievers think, if they don’t say out loud “so, that’s how God treats His people?” Why would anyone want that?
And so, the true nature of God, which is to bless his people with abundant life (John 10:10) is suppressed because of our sin.
God can’t bless His children who are walking in sin any more than a parent can reward a wayward child.
What Message is our Life Conveying?
But we will certainly be held accountable for the message we convey of God’s nature and character by our lives.
If we’re so ridden with poverty and sickness and misery because of our refusal to give up our sin, God will be dishonored by the message our life conveys about the nature of God.
For this we will be held accountable. It’s a serious business to call ourselves Christians and represent God on the earth. And we’d better not take the responsibility lightly.
Having said that, let me emphasize that becoming upright is a process, and none of us is going to attain it overnight. For most of us, it will take years.
But, if we’re walking in the Spirit, and being obedient, we will get there. And we’ll have protection, provision, peace and joy on the way.
We won’t have every good thing yet, but neither will we be miserable, plagued by tragedies, be depressed and overwhelmed.
To read another post related to God’s Glory: What Part Do We Play? see By Faith Not Sight: The Secret to Stability in Trials.