Being a Christian isn’t about religiosity; it’s about a relationship. That’s become a bit of a catchphrase for us in recent years, as a response to the growing misconception that we just have to be nice to people and then go to Heaven. And the catchphrase in wonderfully true! To be a Christian—a worshiper of the same God that the ancient Israelites worshiped—means that we enjoy God’s blessings, and we in turn bless God. Christianity is a relationship. But for most if not all of us, our understanding of that relationship needs to be far bigger.
Growing in that relationship, and growing closer to God, means we are in a sort of upward spiral. The more we know God and realize the weight of his glory, the more joy we have in him; we find ourselves wanting to obey and glorify him all the more, and so we want to more deeply know him and his glory, and so on. Solomon displays that upward spiral well as he prays with Israel over the newly-built temple, the home of God’s relationship with his people. He gushes with praise for the God who is steadfast in his promises, faithful to protect his people, and eternally good. Let’s not brush past these phrases just because we’ve heard them over and over again; Solomon reflects on God’s glory and can’t contain his joyous praise!
If our praise overflows like Solomon’s, then naturally there will be a response. If these things are true—if God’s glory really is as wonderful as we always say it is—what other life could we possibly want other than one fully committed to the Almighty? If these things are true, then we will be so quickly eager to turn our hearts to him, that is, to utterly refocus our souls away from ourselves and toward the Lord. We will obey his commands, we will zealously seek to discern his will, and we will take joy in doing so. And above all else—nothing else matters as much as this—God will be glorified.
This is our religion. We are blown away by how much God has glorified us, and so we seek in all things to glorify him. We are full recipients, and thus full givers, of love. We spiral upward and upward in increasing love, until all else passes away and we are with the God of love forever. So we should be weary of anything that may break that spiral—our praise leaking, our obedience growing apathetic, or our pride taking control anywhere. Why would we settle for sinful alternatives? The one true God desires relationship with us. To him be all glory forever and ever!
