“Give unto the Lord, ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
(Psalm 29:1-2)
At some point in life, every person asks: Why am I here? or What is my purpose? The world offers a variety of answers, but the only true answer is found in God’s Word. Scripture makes it clear that the ultimate purpose of every person is to glorify God. “Everyone who is called by My name… whom I have created for My glory…” (Isaiah 43:7).
From the very beginning, all creation was designed to reflect the glory of its Creator. Revelation 4:11 declares, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
God is not only glorious—He is the source of all glory. Psalm 29:1-2 commands us to “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name!” He is the “God of glory” (Acts 7:2), the “King of glory” (Ps. 24:10), and His name is excellent in all the earth (Ps. 8:1). Every created thing exists to proclaim His majesty: “The heavens declare the glory of God…” (Ps. 19:1).
If glorifying God is the ultimate purpose of all things, then how much more should this be the highest aim of those created in His image? John Ball rightly observed, “These things in creation minister plentiful occasions to us to praise God.”
Yet this truth is not easy for sinful men to accept. The flesh seeks to exalt self rather than God. But as Isaiah 48:9-11 reminds us, the Lord is passionately committed to His own glory alone: “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”
God will not share His glory with another, and rightly so, for He alone is worthy. So to live for anything less than His glory is to fall short of the purpose for which we were created.
Do you live for the glory of God? Does your life reflect His holiness? Does your worship—both private and public—honor Him? If God’s own purpose in all things is to magnify His name, then our highest calling must be the same. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
Contemplations
- The Tragedy of Self-Glory. Lord, how terrible that Adam and Eve sought to steal Your honor by attempting to attain divinity rather than bowing before You. Keep my heart humble, that I might not follow in their footsteps but seek to glorify You alone.
- Salvation for Your Glory. Though I am saved from sin, I am ultimately saved for Your glory. In other words, my redemption is not merely for my benefit—it is designed to magnify Your grace (1 Cor. 1:26-31; Eph. 2:8-10). You are the first and highest of all beings; all things exist as a distant second to Your majesty.
- Living for God’s Honor. Jesus taught us to begin our prayers with the hallowing of Your name, Father. Do I live each day with this as my greatest concern? Lord, help me honor You above all else. Let Your kingdom and glory be the chief aim of my life, for in You alone is wisdom, power, and goodness.
Prayer
[Supplication as a Plea to Live for Your Glory]
O Lord, my Creator and Redeemer, You alone are worthy of all honor and glory. Your Word commands, “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,” (Psalm 29:2). Who am I, Lord, that I should stand before You? Who am I that I should bear the name of Christ? You are the King of glory, the Lord of majesty, the One before whom all the earth must bow. Yet, You have called me to Yourself, not because I am worthy, but because You are merciful.
O God, too often, I seek my own praise instead of Yours. I live for fleeting things rather than for Your eternal glory. Forgive me for the pride that exalts myself and for the desire for human approval rather than the honor that comes from You. You have declared, “For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it… My glory I will not give to another,” (Isaiah 48:11). Lord, I humble myself before You—let my life be a testimony to Your greatness, not my own.
You have not left me to wander in confusion, O Lord. You have made known to me my purpose: to magnify Your name in all that I do. You have called me out of darkness into Your marvelous light that I might proclaim Your excellencies. You have given me Your Word to instruct me, Your Spirit to guide me, and the testimony of creation to remind me that I was made for Your glory. Keep this calling ever before me that I may not stray from it.
Lord, direct my steps, that I may glorify You in all things. Let my speech be seasoned with grace, my actions marked by righteousness, and my thoughts fixed on Your truth. Teach me to honor You not only in great matters but in the smallest details of life—whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do, let me do it all for Your glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). Shape my desires, so that my greatest longing is to see Your name exalted above all the earth.
When I am tempted to pursue my own fame, remind me that only Your name is excellent. When discouragement clouds my mind, let me rest in the truth that You work all things for Your glory and my good. When trials come, let me suffer well, that I might display Your sufficiency. If I should prosper, let me not become proud, but return all honor to You. May I reflect the beauty of holiness in every season, that my life may be an offering of worship before You.
Lord, grant me a heart that beats for Your glory. Give me lips that never cease to praise You. Let every breath I take be one of adoration. Let me be found faithful to my purpose, that I may glorify You on earth as I will one day glorify You in heaven.
For You alone are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Further References for Psalm 29:1-2
1 Chron. 16:29; Ps. 5:7; Lev. 10:3; Hab. 2:20; John 4:24; Rev. 15:4.
