Trying to Bring God Glory… or Letting His Glory Shine Through Me?
I don’t have to shine for Him—His glory gently shines through me, even through the cracks.
A Conversation About Purpose, Presence, and Letting Christ Be Seen
“We all… beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18
“To them God chose to make known… the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” – Colossians 1:27
A Conversation After a Sunday Sermon on “Living for God’s Glory”
Daniel:
Today’s message got me thinking—I really want my life to glorify God. I just don’t always know how. I’m trying to be more intentional—more kind, more generous, more bold—but it’s hard to tell if I’m actually bringing Him glory or just trying to look like a better Christian.
Me:
I remember chasing that same desire. I wanted to be a “light” so badly, but I treated it like a performance. What I didn’t realize back then was this: God's glory isn't something we manufacture—it’s something we reveal as we yield to Christ within.
Daniel’s View: It’s My Job to Make God Look Good
Daniel flips open his notes. “But doesn’t Scripture tell us to glorify God with our lives? Like 1 Corinthians 10:31—‘Whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God.’ And Jesus said in Matthew 5, ‘Let your light shine before others so they may glorify your Father in heaven.’”
He adds:
John 15:8 – “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…”
Romans 12:1 – “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice…”
Philippians 2:15 – “Shine like stars in the world…”
“I guess I just assumed that giving God glory meant giving Him my best, right?”
My Response: God Is Glorified as Christ Is Revealed in You
“Those verses are all true,” I say. “But look closer—every one of them flows from something God is already doing in you. You’re not creating glory for God. You’re revealing the glory that already dwells in you.”
I flip to Colossians 1:27 – “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
And 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “Beholding the Lord’s glory, we are being transformed… from glory to glory.”
“Glory isn’t a spotlight you turn on by trying harder. It’s the radiance of Jesus, shining through a yielded life. You don’t need to try to reflect His glory like a mirror. You’re actually filled with it—because He lives in you.”
Effort vs. Expression: Letting Glory Flow Naturally
Daniel leans forward. “So you’re saying glorifying God isn’t about achieving something impressive for Him?”
“Exactly. It’s about resting in the One who already glorified the Father perfectly—and now lives in you to continue doing it. Your part is to walk in dependence, not performance. That’s what Jesus meant in John 15—‘Apart from Me you can do nothing.’ But as you abide, His fruit grows… and that’s what glorifies the Father.”
“It’s not about doing for His glory—it’s about being available for His glory to shine through.”
A Grace-Oriented Appeal
If you’ve been striving to live for God’s glory, pause.
You were never asked to make God look glorious.
You were invited to reveal the glory of the One who already lives within you.
Christ in you is the hope of glory—not you trying harder, not you looking more spiritual.
Just Him. Expressing His life. Bearing His fruit. Shining His light.
So today, stop asking, “How can I glorify God?”
Start resting in the truth: “Christ in me is already doing it.”
And as you yield, you won’t need to try to shine.
You’ll simply glow.
Photo Credit: Image sourced from Unsplash.com