It’s interesting to me how little the modern church points to the glorification of God as the point of our lives. Perhaps that’s a harsh statement, but this is a harsh reality - we’re all gonna die! (Romans 6:23)

II Chronicles 7:13-14 says that if we humble ourselves before the LORD, He will be gracious and merciful towards us. James 4:10 says the same. II Chronicles 7:19-21, on the other hand, says that if we forsake God, then our fate will become a byword to everyone.

To humble ourselves literally means “to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase” or “to destroy the independence, power, or will of.” Sounds a lot like “stop glorifying yourselves!”
A byword is “an object of general reproach, derision, scorn, etc.” That isn’t the half of it.

Exodus 7:3 says that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh… so that God would have an opportunity to perform miracles. Why? Exodus 7:5 - so that the Egyptians would know that God was the LORD! Pharaoh himself, the most powerful king in the Israelites’ world (or history), became a byword when he was juxtaposed against the awesome power of God. God’s will was to receive glory.

In II Corinthians 3:7-8, Paul writes that the laws of Moses were so steeped in the glory of God that Moses’ face was too bright to look at, and that the covenant of Christ has even more glory.

What was the endstate of creation? Psalm 19:1 - God’s glory! What did the angels sing at Christ’s birth? Luke 2:14 - “Glory to God in the highest!” What’s going to happen in heaven? Revelation 4:9-11 - the glorification of God!

What have I done lately to glorify Him?!