“Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen.”

Ephesians 3:21

When the “Giver of every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17a) is also the Recipient of our praise and thanksgiving, we can rest assured that He is pleased.

If you read the Old and New Testaments with the carnal or natural mind, it would appear our Creator suffers from some type of celestial inferiority complex.  His demand that we have “no other god before Him” (Ex. 20:3) and to “love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength” (Dt. 6:5; Mk. 12:30) would seem more fitting coming from an insecure lover than it would the God of the universe.

But, such is not the case, dear Pilgrim—and never has been.

When Paul included today’s “Blessed Benediction” to this section of his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, he was reminding them (and us) of the importance of our rightful recognition of “Who God is and what He has promised” (Heb. 11:6).  From birth, there’s an innate desire within each one of us to worship someone or something.  And, if that worship is misplaced, so will be our priorities, passions, pursuits, etc. (Mt. 6:33).

That’s why we should always remember the early church’s leaders’ reminder of “Man’s Chief End:”  “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  Hallelujah!!  Like Paul, they knew our lives will be balanced and our perspectives clear when He—and He alone—is our central focus… for, truly, “it’s in Him that we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). . .and “He is before all things and by Him all things consist (Grk. ‘sunistao’—‘to set together, constitute, stand with, etc.’)”—Col. 1:17.

Or, another way to put it is, He’s the “Glue” that holds everything together.

And, He’s the One Who “holds us in the hollow of His Hand from which no one can pluck us” (Jn. 10:28-29)—which gives us “sure and steadfast stability and security as the Anchor of the soul” (Heb. 6:17-20; Ps. 107:26-30).  Glory!!

Thus, in light of what he’d just said (vv.14-20) it’s fitting that Paul would exhort us to “give God the glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.”  When we remember the Greek word “doxa” is used here for “glory” and also means “dignity, honor, praise, worship, etc.,” we realize this is not a rendering of affirmation to some ego-starved, capricious, whimsical god who’ll zap you if you don’t; instead, when we glorify Him with our lives and lips, we’re basically worshipping Him “in spirit and in truth,” which is the essence of true worship (Jn. 4:23-24).

And, such worship is always rooted in Biblical truth (theology) that springs forth in heartfelt praise (doxology)—which will keep us from dry orthodoxy and shallow emotionalism.

Do not forget that such glorifying should occur “in the Church,” which means His Body of born-again believers.  And, the One Who helps us do that is the Lord Jesus “throughout all ages, world within end.”  May we agree with Him by giving a hearty “Amen!  So be it, Lord, in all I think, say and do today!  To You be all the glory!!”

By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated September 20, 2010