The Anchor of God's Glory

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Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Psalm 34:3

  I remember a fun little vacation my sisters and I spent with my aunt and uncle one summer on Tim's Ford Lake. My uncle would take us out to the far ends of the lake in his pontoon boat and we would jump out into the lake and swim. We had a blast swimming in the shadows of that big boat. It's overarching presence gave us comfort and we never once were concerned about how to get home -- because my sisters and I certainly had no clue where we were. However we had complete faith in my uncle, the captain of his ship, and that big boat's glorious presence was what we looked to for reassurance. We were in awe of that boat, and the times we were able to go out in it were major highlights of that trip. 
  That little illustration came to mind as I was meditating on some truths about servant leadership that God led me to recently. As we learn to serve God and each other, what is it that unites us? What is the overarching purpose? What defines our most mundane tasks at home and elsewhere? 
   The glory of God is central to the answering all of these questions. Remember, coram deo?  That Latin phrase refers to living every moment of every day in the presence of God. This naturally guides us to live reverently and in fear of the holiness of God. Yet there is more. God calls us to live for His glory! Living coram deo includes living out every moment to the glory of God. 
    He made us in His image (Genesis 1:26) -- to reflect His glory. 

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
John 17:22-23

As we walk through life, we are called to do live out the glory that Jesus gave us! In my mind, this is kind of like that big old pontoon boat of my uncle's. That presence -- God's glory, is the reminder of who and where we are and is our central focus as we complete every task we are called to do. As long as we keep that in our line of vision, we are safe. It gives us purpose. 
  Psalm 34:3 calls us to exalt and magnify the Lord together. The second part of this little ramble is that we are called to glorify God together! We are intended to live in community with those that seek to live and magnify the name of the Lord. 
  Putting these pieces together gives me encouragement when the mundane aspects of life and service threaten to overwhelm me. We can -- and should-- live EVERY moment to the glory and to reflect the glory of the God who made us in His image. When we work together for this purpose and in this attitude, everything else fades in importance and we can find true joy in every aspect of life. 
May we all seek to understand this more!

Soli Deo Gloria!
Heather Sparks

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