Live for the Praise of His Glory

Scripture: Ephesians 1:9-11

For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him, according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things, according to the counsel of His will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of His glory.

Reaction: Today’s passage was listed under the topic of Purpose, and I thought that perhaps it would bring me closer to understanding my mission in life. What I gleaned from my reflection was that the purpose of everyone’s life here on earth is to live for the glory of God. This echoes an impression I had several months ago, that God does not care so much what I do, but what I am. As I reflected earlier, I don’t need to DO so much as to BE. And what do I need to be? Faithful, thankful, and praise-filled were three words that came to mind. By believing in God and in Jesus as His son, by being aware of all that God has created and by offering my appreciation and adoration, I will truly be living to praise God for all of His glory.

When I read the first few verses of this passage, I was thinking that God really has not made known to me the mystery of His will, or if He has, I haven’t been paying attention! But upon further contemplation, I see that His will is not that mysterious; He simply seeks to have all people be united in Him, to know Him and love Him, and to love each other. And it will all come about according to His will, His purpose, as the being who accomplishes all things. This is the Lord’s purpose; I believe that my part (and everyone’s part) in His plan is to become closer to Him through prayer and praise, and to draw others to Him by word and by deed.