Fulfilling Your Purpose: How Knowing Who You Are Can Change Your World Sample

Isaiah’s words were emphatic: God does not share his glory with others (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). The context was idolatry, and we can understand God’s jealousy for the hearts of his people. No loving relationship flourishes between divided hearts, and the hearts of God’s people were divided between him and false gods. He clearly would not and should not share his glory with such rivals.

But Jesus said he had given his followers the glory the Father had given him so that they might experience the oneness of divine fellowship (John 17:22). The only way to reconcile the statements of Isaiah and the words of Jesus are to assume that we are no longer “other”—that we are intimately bound into the love and unity of the Trinity and can share in the glory of the Father, Son, and Spirit. We were created for such glory to begin with; we were made in the image of God, and it’s impossible to have his image without his glory, as the two are surely inseparable. But we shattered that image in the Fall, lost our ability to reflect the glory of God, began seeking our own glory, and set ourselves up as rivals. Jesus came in that image to restore us and to endow us with glory once again. We have been redeemed, are being restored, and are able to reflect the glory we were once given.

What does that mean in real life? It means that part of our purpose in this world is simply to be the image of God—to reflect his nature, allow him to demonstrate his strength in us, be recipients of his provision and power, and carry his wisdom and love. It means the direction of our lives should always be moving toward his likeness. It means the amazing words of his prayer are not too good to be true.

Accept them. Believe them with all your heart. Step into them daily and wear them well. The world needs you to experience what Jesus has promised and spread it far and wide.

Prayer: Lord, you made me for glory. I feel it. I’ve even tried to get it in the wrong ways. Restore me to your true image, and let me reflect your glory well. Let me be who you long for me to be. Amen.