Glory in the Highest

Glory
If asked what the word Glory makes you think of, would you first think of a song, a film or television show, a ship, a game, an Australian football, a wrestler or even a comic book character? For most of us that hang around in Christian circles the word Glory may bring to mind phrases like "the Glory of the Lord", "show me your Glory", "tell of His Glory among the nations", "for the Heavens are telling of the glory of God." But with all of these different connotations of one word how can one reconcile its true meaning.


Dictionary.com defines this word as followed:

glo·ry

   [glawr-ee, glohr-ee]  Show IPA

noun, plural glo·ries,

1.

very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown: to win glory on the field of battle.

2.

something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; adistinguished ornament or an object of pride: a sonnet that isone of the glories of English poetry.

3.

adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving: Give glory to God.

4.

resplendent beauty or magnificence: the glory of autumn.

5.

a state of great splendor, magnificence, or prosperity.

6.

a state of absolute happiness, gratification, contentment,etc.: She was in her glory when her horse won the Derby.

7.

the splendor and bliss of heaven; heaven.

8.

a ring, circle, or surrounding radiance of light represented about the head or the whole figure of a sacred person, as Christ or a saint; a halo, nimbus, or aureole.

verb (used without object), glo·ried, glo·ry·ing,

10.

to exult with triumph; rejoice proudly (usually followed byin): Their father gloried in their success.

interjection

12.

Also, glory be. Glory be to God (used to express surprise,elation, wonder, etc.).

Seems to me that with so many different definitions it's even harder to truly define this world. So when we talk about giving or bringing glory to Christ what does that mean? What does it look like?


The word glory is found 339 times in the bible. From Genesis to Revelation we see a common theme when this word appears, God's glory. Whether that's seeing His glory or bringing Him glory, there's definitely something trying to be communicated to us throughout the bible about His glory. The old testament spoke of people seeing God's glory in the clouds, on the mountain top as a flame, and at several different tents of meeting. Moses prayed that he would be shown God's glory, Aaron was told to wear a tunic to bring glory and beauty, and Joshua begged Achan to not hide his sins from God because it wasn't glorifying.


Later in the old testament we start to see passages that talk about how great our God is:

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

1 Chronicles 29:10-12  

This scripture not only depicts how we are encouraged to bring the LORD glory, but so are the stars and animals found in the sea.

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters.Psalm 29:2-4

Take a look at this video....

Isn't that awesome! There's this overwhelming sense after watching this video to sing How Great Is Our God.


Just thought this was cool... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glory_(optical_phenomenon)




May we all see His glory in everything that we do and live our lives as a reflection of truly understanding how mighty and strong our LORD is. His glory is what Christmas is all about and may we go into this season singing along with all of creation.