Revealing God's Glory Amidst Chaos and Division

Devotional

Day 1: Creation's Testimony of God's Glory

Creation continuously declares God's glory, from the smallest particle to the vast galaxies, providing an overwhelming testimony of His power and wisdom. Despite the world's calamities, God's glory is ever-present and undeniable. The universe, in its vastness and intricacy, serves as a constant reminder of the Creator's majesty. Even when human actions seem to obscure this truth, the natural world stands as a testament to God's eternal power and divine nature. This perspective invites believers to look beyond the immediate chaos and recognize the underlying order and beauty that reflect God's glory. [03:31]

Psalm 19:1-4 (ESV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."

Reflection: As you go about your day, take a moment to observe a part of creation that you often overlook. How does this aspect of nature reflect God's glory and power?

Day 2: God's Actions for His Name's Sake

The phrase "that they may know that I am the Lord" signifies God's actions for His name's sake throughout history, whether through salvation or judgment, revealing His glory even when it is not immediately visible. This recurring biblical theme underscores God's commitment to His own glory and the revelation of His character. Whether through acts of deliverance or judgment, God's ultimate purpose is to make Himself known. This understanding challenges believers to trust in God's sovereignty, even when His ways are not immediately clear. [05:19]

Ezekiel 36:22-23 (ESV): "Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes."

Reflection: Consider a situation in your life where God's actions seemed unclear. How might this situation be an opportunity for God to reveal His glory and character to you or others?

Day 3: The Cross as the Ultimate Display of Glory

The cross of Jesus Christ exemplifies God's glory revealed in the darkest moment, showing that God's grace and glory are present even when unseen, and through faith, we can now understand its significance. The crucifixion, a moment of apparent defeat, is transformed into the ultimate victory through the resurrection. This paradox highlights the profound nature of God's wisdom and the depth of His love for humanity. Believers are called to view their own trials through the lens of the cross, trusting that God's glory can be revealed in their darkest moments. [06:24]

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (ESV): "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a personal challenge or hardship. How can you view this situation through the lens of the cross, trusting that God's glory and grace are present even if unseen?

Day 4: The Necessity of God's Grace

The history of failure among God's people highlights the need for God's grace, as no one can achieve righteousness through their own efforts, magnifying the beauty of God's grace and His intention to show humanity's hopeless condition apart from Him. This acknowledgment of human frailty and divine grace invites believers to rely wholly on God for their righteousness. It is a call to humility and dependence, recognizing that salvation and sanctification are works of God's grace alone. [08:58]

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are striving to earn God's favor. How can you shift your focus to rely on His grace instead of your own efforts?

Day 5: The Tapestry of History and Christian Hedonism

One day, we will see the full tapestry of history, with all its chaotic strands woven into a beautiful display of God's glory, and Christian hedonism assures us that God will succeed in creating a people who can fully appreciate and delight in His glory. This future hope encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate plan and to find joy in His presence. Christian hedonism teaches that true fulfillment is found in delighting in God, and this perspective transforms how believers view their lives and the world around them. [10:16]

Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV): "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

Reflection: Consider how you can cultivate a deeper delight in God's presence today. What practical steps can you take to prioritize this joy in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

In these times of chaos and division, we are reminded of the paramount importance of God's glory. As we look at the world, we might wonder whether it brings more honor or dishonor to God. This question, posed by Sam from Brighton, England, challenges us to consider how the weight of non-God-glorifying acts compares to God's desire for glory. The Bible clearly teaches that God aims to be glorified in all things, as seen in scriptures like 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Isaiah 43:7. Yet, history seems filled with acts that do not glorify God, leading us to question how this aligns with God's ultimate purpose.

To address this, we must first recognize that all of creation, from the smallest particle to the vast galaxies, continuously declares God's power and wisdom. This testimony is overwhelming and ever-present, even if the calamities of the world seem to detract from it. Secondly, the phrase "that they may know that I am the Lord" appears frequently in the Bible, indicating that God acts for His name's sake in all of history, whether through salvation or judgment. This suggests that God's glory is present even when it is not immediately visible to us.

The cross of Jesus Christ serves as the most profound example of God's glory being revealed in what seemed like the darkest moment. Although no one saw it at the time, through faith, we now understand the grace and glory displayed in that event. Similarly, the pervasive failure of God's people throughout history highlights the need for God's grace, as no one can achieve righteousness through their own efforts. This magnifies the beauty of God's grace and His intention to show humanity's hopeless condition apart from Him.

Ultimately, we will one day see the full tapestry of history, with all its seemingly chaotic strands woven into a beautiful display of God's glory. Christian hedonism assures us that God will succeed in creating a people who can fully appreciate and delight in His glory. This delight will be the ultimate demonstration of God's grace and beauty.

Key Takeaways

1. present and undeniable. [03:31]
2. The phrase "that they may know that I am the Lord" signifies God's actions for His name's sake throughout history, whether through salvation or judgment, revealing His glory even when it is not immediately visible.

3. The cross of Jesus Christ exemplifies God's glory revealed in the darkest moment, showing that God's grace and glory are present even when unseen, and through faith, we can now understand its significance.

4. The history of failure among God's people highlights the need for God's grace, as no one can achieve righteousness through their own efforts, magnifying the beauty of God's grace and His intention to show humanity's hopeless condition apart from Him.

5. One day, we will see the full tapestry of history, with all its chaotic strands woven into a beautiful display of God's glory, and Christian hedonism assures us that God will succeed in creating a people who can fully appreciate and delight in His glory.

** [03:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - The Importance of God's Glory
[00:39] - Listener's Question from Brighton
[01:14] - The Weight of Non-God-Glorifying Acts
[02:06] - Biblical Teachings on God's Glory
[03:31] - Creation Declares God's Glory
[05:19] - God's Actions for His Name's Sake
[06:24] - The Cross as the Ultimate Display of Glory
[07:47] - The Pervasive Failure of God's People
[09:33] - The Tapestry of History
[10:59] - Christian Hedonism and God's Success
[12:10] - Closing Remarks and Upcoming Topics

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Isaiah 43:7 - "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Romans 1:18-20 - "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

Observation Questions:

According to 1 Corinthians 10:31, what is the ultimate purpose of our actions, even in mundane activities like eating and drinking?
How does Isaiah 43:7 describe the purpose of God's creation of His people?
In Romans 1:18-20, what does Paul say about how God's attributes are revealed to humanity?
What examples from nature did the sermon provide to illustrate the continuous declaration of God's glory? [03:31]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of God's glory being revealed in all things, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:31, challenge or affirm your understanding of daily life activities?
What does the frequent biblical phrase "that they may know that I am the Lord" suggest about God's actions throughout history? [05:19]
How does the sermon explain the significance of the cross as a moment of God's glory, despite it being a time of great darkness? [06:24]
What does the history of failure among God's people, as discussed in the sermon, reveal about the necessity of God's grace? [08:58]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your daily activities. How can you intentionally do them for the glory of God, as encouraged in 1 Corinthians 10:31?
The sermon mentioned that God's glory is present even when unseen. Can you think of a recent situation where you struggled to see God's glory? How might you view it differently now? [07:16]
How can the understanding that all creation declares God's glory change the way you interact with the world around you? [03:31]
Consider a time when you felt overwhelmed by the chaos in the world. How does the idea of God weaving a beautiful tapestry of history provide comfort or hope to you? [10:16]
The sermon highlighted the need for God's grace due to human failure. How can you rely more on God's grace in areas where you feel inadequate? [08:58]
How can you cultivate a heart that delights in God's glory, as described in the concept of Christian hedonism? [11:42]
Identify one way you can help others see God's glory in their lives, especially in challenging times. What practical steps can you take this week to encourage someone in this way?

Sermon Clips

i would observe that nature from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest gathering of galaxies is constantly, without pause, and in millions upon millions of ways declaring the power and the wisdom of god in this world. every animal every human mind and body every flower every tree every cloud every river the sun the moon the stars and all the inner work interworkings of of these realities they all give an exquisite testimony to the brightness and truth of the glory of god. [00:03:21]

god is always and everywhere shouting the wisdom of all that he has made the heavens are telling the glory of god in wisdom he has made them all and just this morning in my devotions i read that section in romans 1 18 to the end of the chapter where it says everybody knows god and from the creation of the world all the works that he has made is revealing the invisible attributes of god. [00:04:29]

i would draw attention to the phrase in the bible that they may know that i am the lord that phrase occurs 88 times in the bible 72 of them are in the book of ezekiel that's amazing even more amazing is that this phrase is used both when god's people are being saved and when they are being judged it's used when secular nations are getting the upper hand and when they are being punished. [00:05:16]

i think the intention is that in all of history whether we see it or not god is acting for the sake of his name so that someday we will have eyes to see the way he worked for his name and his glory in the events that did not seem that way to us at all at the time. [00:06:00]

as jesus comes to the end of his life and he contemplates that in the next hours he will be crucified he prays like this this is john 12 27 now is my soul troubled and what shall i say father save me from this hour but for this purpose i have come to this hour father glorify your name. [00:06:26]

in the absolute worst most sinful event in the history of the world the grace of god was being put on display and nobody saw it god's glory was shining the fact that nobody saw it doesn't mean it wasn't there and nobody saw it and later through the eyes of faith and with divine interpretation we do see it. [00:07:05]

when we ask why there is such pervasive failure on the part of god's people in this world to live a way that glorifies god and why the bible itself is such a relentless history of failure by god's people not to mention the nations romans 3 19 to 20 gives a remarkable insight. [00:07:48]

one of the purposes of the history of failure among god's people is to stop the mouth of every human being and make clear that no one can get right to god through law keeping but only through absolutely free glorious sovereign grace so god intends to show that humans are in an absolutely hopeless condition and thus to magnify the freedom and the beauty of his grace. [00:08:23]

this leads to the observation that in the end we will be able to see the god-glorifying purposes of god more clearly than we can now consider two images you've probably all heard these i find them both very helpful first the imagery of a tapestry i think corey ten boom used to talk about this. [00:09:33]

now we see the ugly loose strands at the bottom of the tapestry nothing beautiful about it that we can see except by the eye of revelation but then we will see it from the top and the tapestry will be complete it will be beautiful with the strands all in their proper place and that will be what history is. [00:09:56]

god is now painting a mural of universal history and creation and redemption and as that mural comes into being we see this corner we see that corner we see this darkness we see that little bright spot we and we can't make much sense out of it as a whole just staring at a history with all of its mixed colors and shapes. [00:10:22]

christian hedonism says that god will succeed in finishing the tapestry and completing the mural in such a way that there will be a perfect communication of the perfections and beauties of god in all their proper proportion and god will succeed also in creating a people for himself who finally have eyes to see that glory for what it really is. [00:11:19]

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Revealing God's Glory Amidst Chaos and Division

Devotional

Day 1: Creation's Testimony of God's Glory

Day 2: God's Actions for His Name's Sake

Day 3: The Cross as the Ultimate Display of Glory

Day 4: The Necessity of God's Grace

Day 5: The Tapestry of History and Christian Hedonism

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Revealing God's Glory Amidst Chaos and Division

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