Glorifying God

I have always been puzzled by verses of scripture that talk about God being glorified. For example Paul tells the Corinthians : “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Cor 6:20). I’m going to reveal my ignorance, but the reason I was puzzled is that to me the word glorify meant to make something glorious—glorious being something or someone that possessed glory. So how could I or any other human being glorify God? He is already glorious.

A little dictionary sleuthing soon solved my problem. Glorify also means “to praise or celebrate.” So what Paul is admonishing the people to do is to celebrate and praise God in their actions and thoughts.

I especially like the celebrate part. I think we talk so much about reverence in Church meetings (which is important and right for meetings!), that we don’t celebrate our Father and Heaven and the Savior enough. Outside of meetings, in our daily living we should be more exuberant about the wonderful things God has given us and done for us. We should remember Them with excitement and enthusiasm. We should rejoice daily in the great gift of the Atonement. This happens through our thoughts and words, but the best way to be excited and show our enthusiasm is to do what They have taught us to do. Every time we suppress a bad thought, control our temper, refrain from gossiping, refuse to tell a white lie, pay our tithing, or obey any commandment of God, we are glorifying God. At those times we should rejoice and celebrate the fact that we know what it is God want us to do so that we can do it. There are many people in the world who don’t have that knowledge. But we do! Rejoice! Glorify God! Celebrate God!

In short, what I am saying is that to glorify God means to live in such a happy and obedient way that God is obvious to others in your life.

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:8).