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\u201cNow to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen\u201d (Ephesians 3:20,21).<\/p>\n
PAUL\u2019S WORDS HERE CONSTITUTE A \u201cDOXOLOGY.\u201d From the Greek doxa<\/em> (\u201cglory, honor\u201d), a doxology is an expression of praise to God. To God be glory, Paul says, throughout all generations.<\/p>\n In Christ Jesus.<\/em> Everything about Christ results in God\u2019s glory. On the evening before He died, Jesus prayed, \u201cFather, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you\u201d (John 17:1). So we may certainly pray that God will be glorified in Christ.<\/p>\n In the church.<\/em> Because it deals with human beings, this part of the passage is hard for some to understand, and yet it is no less true. The work of Christ in accomplishing the Father\u2019s purposes resulted in a people saved from their sins.<\/em> God is glorified by the very existence of these people. Even prior to their perfection in heaven, those saved \u201cin Christ\u201d are those by whose redemption God is greatly glorified.<\/p>\n Our prayer should be that God will receive glory \u201cin the church and in Christ Jesus.\u201d Yes, we do need to resist sectarian, institutional, and \u201cparty\u201d concepts of the church, but we must not be so preoccupied with false doctrine that we fail to emphasize important truths that should be preached positively. I fear that some can\u2019t even hear the mention of a passage like Ephesians 3:21 without hastening to remind hearers of what it does not<\/em> mean. But surely, what the passage teaches is extremely important, and we shouldn\u2019t be hesitant to proclaim it. May God be glorified in Christ Jesus. And may He be glorified in the church, as Paul teaches us.<\/em><\/p>\n God chose that Christ\u2019s glory would be closely related to the glory of His people, people who have been saved from their sins by His own blood. These people \u2014 broken, fallible, but forgiven people, growing in holiness as they learn from their mistakes \u2014 are the people who \u201cembody\u201d Christ and glorify God the Father. If you have obeyed the gospel of Christ, you are a part of Christ\u2019s body, His church. In your new relationship with God, you are not alone. You are part of a people, each of whom it glorified God to rescue.<\/p>\n In Your church, Lord, be glorified, be glorified. Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n
In Your church, Lord, be glorified today.
(Bob Kilpatrick)<\/p>\n