The glory of God is a man fully alive

How can man actually benefit God? Does God need us?

I was with a group of people the other day and we were sharing our triumphs together. I don't know if you have done this with a group. If you haven't I would highly recommend it. To hear the stories of finishing marathons, going from disappointment to football super star, the moment when everything becomes electric on stage when performing a brand new song. When we share these stories with each other you can feel the exhilaration. It almost feels like you can touch the glory. For me I have moments of when what could have been a very harsh conversation turns into a possibility for friendship and encouragement. I also remember one time when I was preaching about the messiness of our lives and the God who does messy and unexpected things to meet us where we are. At the end of the sermon I offered a prayer for those who wanted to come to the front. It was an amazing blessing to me as those people walked down and knelt to pray with me.

We get these glimpses of glory, when God is there working through us and we can sense it, feel it, know we are in the center of his will. We are God's workmanship Paul says created to do the good works he had in mind for us to do. And when we find ourselves in the middle of that we can shine and radiate the glory of God. Christ in us, scripture says, the hope of glory.

In chap 22 of Job Eliphaz asks the question, can a man benefit God? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? Eliphaz is still trying to get Job to admit his wickedness and then we he comes back to God things will be better, he will get his blessings back. But this is a very ignorant question to ask. Does God need us? No probably not, he could create completely new people to spend time with and he is three in one so he is never really lonely. But do we benefit him? Is a righteous man something of value to God? This answer is a resounding yes!

Why else would Jesus have come to die for us? Why would it matter if he paid the penalty for our sins so we could stand righteous before God. St. Iranaeus is quoted as saying, "The glory of God is a man fully alive." We are made in the image of God. When we shine we are reflecting the glory of God. When we step into the righteousness of Christ and live a life of glory to God in everything we do, whether we eat, drink, or whatever we do we are a benefit to God. We shine his name forth.

We do it even more so when we are daily transformed by him to leave behind old sinful patterns. It really is glorious to see a life changed by the power of God.

May we live lives of glory today, in Christ, changed by the power of his sacrifice and resurrection so those around us might see a glimpse of the glory of God reflected through us.