“For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 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.” -Isaiah 48:9-11
We are starting a new study throughout the body of our church – God’s Heart for the Nations. The first week focuses on God’s primary motivation for His interaction in our world, and more specifically in our lives. The reason He interacts, the primary motivating reason for His involvement in our lives is for His glory, His name’s sake.
This is great news! It is amazing news for us today that God is first and foremost concerned with His glory and praise. Because you see, God rescues His people in order that He might be seen as great and merciful, and thus be worshipped and given glory and praise (Psalm 107:8, Romans 15:8-9). Ergo, God sent Jesus to live a perfect life, die a substitutionary death, and rise from the dead so that by Jesus we could be eternally rescued from sin to live a new and free life in Him (Ephesians 2:4-5, Colossians 1:13-14).
And when we receive this free gift of life in Christ, we can’t help but bend our knee in humility and worship Jesus Christ as Lord, all to the praise and glory of God!
Thanks be to God, that for His glory He has rescued us and given us life through Jesus Christ!
