To God be the glory

In a moment of victory, Greg Jennings, wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers told a national audience that the glory belongs to God alone after his team won back the Lombardi Trophy at the 45th annual Super Bowl.

Jennings, catching four passes for 64 yards, scored two touchdowns in the biggest football game of his life. 

His bold proclamation was anticipated by most viewers who watched him kneel in silence and bow his head each time he ran the ball across the end zone. There was great speculation that he was praising his God for the moment, and thanking Him for the skill and ability to make those plays.

“To God be the glory,” stated Jennings when the sideline reporter questioned where he could begin talking about the journey that he and the Packers had been on. “To God be the glory,” he ended it.

As millions watched a celebrating team enjoy that one moment in history that most will never experience, it is not the winners that receive the glory, but to God alone. Allow me to explain.

The Bible says that we have been created for God’s glory (Isaiah 43:7) and that we should give Him the glory that is due His name (1 Chronicles 16:29). One writer has said that “glorifying God means to acknowledge His greatness and give Him honor by praising and worshiping Him, primarily because He, and He alone, deserves to be praised, honored and worshipped.”

In a world that promotes self by placing sports figures, movie stars and other public figures on a pedestal, one need not wonder why honoring God has become a stench in today’s society. Rather than giving the praise to the Creator, mankind has worshiped the creation making an idol over which we have exerted our praise. But God is not pleased with exchanging His glory for the glory of man, for He has created the heavens and the earth, and is the source of life for all who dwell on earth (Isaiah 42:5). 

The Bible says that when a man dies his glory will not go down after him (Psalm 49:17). Jesus warned of the dangers of storing up treasure where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in (Matthew 6:19-20). Earthly glory fades but God’s glory endures forever; for He is the source from where glory comes, and where it returns. 

Because God has created us and given us every good thing that we have, we should strive to give Him glory in everything we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). This means giving credit where credit is due. He is our life, strength, comfort, peace, and protector – and He deserves our most because we are the least.

Why should we glorify God? It is because of His Son, Jesus Christ, of whom the apostle Paul said, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Ultimately, God is glorified through Christ’s death on the cross and we can glorify Him by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says that although we all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory He deserves (Romans 3:23), through Jesus Christ we can have the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23), where God’s glory endures forever for us to behold.

Write me at michael@michaelwaits.com if you would like to know more about glorifying God through Jesus Christ. I always enjoy hearing from my readers. www.twitter.com/michaelwaits