Glory

God’s glory is something we shouldn’t live without as Christians. It is essential to our walk with God and understanding of God. There are three types of Glory: ascribed glory, manifest glory, and intrinsic glory. Ascribed glory is the glory we give to God when we praise Him or obey Him. When we say we want to glorify God in our life, this is the kind of glory that is ascribed to Him. It is a glory that He receives. Revelation 4:11 is an example of the glory that we give to God. It says, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Manifest glory is the glory that God shows. It is manifested in the world, hence its name. It is the revelation to us of who God is. An example of this kind of glory is found in Psalm 72:19 which reads, “And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.” The last glory is called intrinsic glory. It is the sum and substance of all that God is. It is the glory He possesses, always has had, and always will have. We cannot give God intrinsic glory. We cannot add to this glory. His glory is the sum total of all that God is, even though God’s attributes cannot be divided. He is who He is, and that includes the glory of God. This glory is more complex and hard to explain. An example of intrinsic glory is the eternality of God’s glory which is shown in Psalm 104:31, “May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works.” Knowing the glory of God in its fullness allows us to comprehend our role in giving God glory as well as the glory He shows towards us. Knowing His glory also helps us to understand His character. God’s glory is His alone and we can only partake in His glory when we become His children.