Eph. 3:21–“…to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Every organization has a purpose that it serves. Car manufacturers make cars. Grocery stores sell food. All businesses set goals and plans around their customers. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus told Peter, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” There is only one church that glorifies God and that is the church Jesus built, which is His body (Eph. 1:23) and was purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28). How does the church glorify God? The context reveals this: “by Christ”. We glorify God when we do things in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Matt. 5:16. It is a significant point that Jesus equates influence (light) with good works; it is these works that glorifies the Father. Glorifying God involves the doing of good works. Paul wrote in Col. 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” We are not members of the body of Christ on Sunday only, but daily. Paul writes that everything we do in word or work must reflect the authority of Christ. In verse 23, Paul describes our attitude in our serving, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” The word “heartily” could be defined as “with enthusiasm, vehemently.” It is not a half-hearted service but giving our all. To the servants Paul wrote in Eph. 6:6, “not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” God is glorified when all we do reflects our love and commitment to Christ. Notice Paul’s admonition (1 Thess. 4:1), “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.” We glorify God by our walk, (manner of life) and when we please Him by obeying His word. We have an example in the Old Testament in King Hezekiah, “Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered” (2 Chron. 31:20).
How do we glorify God today? First, we must let our light of faith shine throughout our lives, (Matt. 5:16). Second, we must walk in such a way that we please God, (1 Thess. 4:1). Third, we must produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, (Gal. 5:22-23). Next, we must glorify God with our bodies, (1 Cor. 6:20). Lastly, when we obey God we glorify Him, (2 Cor. 9:13).