(Eph) 1:6, 12, 14 CJB “so that we would bring him praise commensurate with the glory of the grace he gave us through the Beloved One. so that we who earlier had put our hope in the Messiah would bring him praise commensurate with his glory. who guarantees our inheritance until we come into possession of it and thus bring him praise commensurate with his glory.”
What does it mean to give God praise commensurate with His glory?
I enjoy reading a different Bible translation each year. Sometimes we become so familiar with God’s Word that we stop hearing what He is saying.
This year, reading the Complete Jewish Bible, one word caught my attention: commensurate.
Three times in Ephesians 1, Paul connects our praise with God’s glory.
Commensurate means corresponding in proportion, measure, or degree.
Now consider that! How great is God’s glory?
It is beyond our ability to comprehend! His holiness, majesty, power, wisdom, and goodness exceed anything we can imagine.
How can our praise possibly correspond to such greatness?
Praise Commensurate With His Glory Is More Than Words
We often associate praising God with singing on Sunday or saying, “Praise the Lord!”
Those are wonderful expressions of worship, but surely Paul is calling us to something greater.
The Greek word translated praise carries the idea of commendation or expressing approval and admiration. The word translated glory conveys honor, splendor, and magnificence.
Together, they challenge us to consider how our lives direct attention to God’s greatness.
Praise is giving God the admiration, acknowledgment, recognition, and significance that belong to Him rather than ourselves.
Our words should praise Him. Our deeds should honor Him. Our priorities should reflect His greatness.
That means boasting about God rather than ourselves!
It means serving others because we serve Him.
It means sacrificing our preferences for His purposes.
It means living holy lives that demonstrate His transforming grace.
Our praise should be an earthly reflection of His heavenly glory!
Three Reasons to Praise God
Notice how Paul builds his argument throughout Ephesians 1.
First, we praise God for who He is.
He is the glorious, gracious Father who chose to bless us in His beloved Son.
His character deserves our highest admiration, affection, and obedience.
Second, we praise God for what He has done.
Through Jesus Christ, God has redeemed us, forgiven our sins, and brought us into His family.
We contribute nothing to the glory of His grace. Salvation is His work, and He deserves the praise!
Third, we praise God for what He promises to do.
The Holy Spirit guarantees our inheritance until we receive everything God has promised.
One day, we will be with Christ forever, fully transformed into His likeness.
What a glorious future!
Our praise looks backward at His grace, upward at His greatness, and forward to His promises.
Praising God 24/7/365
Tomorrow, many of us will gather with God’s people to sing, pray, and learn His Word.
But why wait until Sunday to praise Him?
What if our families heard us boasting about God’s goodness more than our accomplishments?
What if our coworkers saw His character reflected in our integrity?
What if our decisions about money, time, and relationships demonstrated that His glory mattered more than our comfort?
Our entire lives should become expressions of praise to the God who saved us!
We cannot produce praise equal to God’s infinite glory. But through His grace, we can live in ways that genuinely honor Him.
So today and tomorrow, marvel at His splendor, rejoice in His generosity, and proclaim His greatness.
Let everything about us point others to Him!
Run Today’s Play
Ask yourself: Does my life direct more attention to God’s glory or my own?
Praise Him publicly. Tell someone today something specific about God’s character, grace, or faithfulness. Make Him the subject of your conversation!
Praise Him practically. Choose one act of obedience, service, or sacrifice that demonstrates His glory matters more than your personal recognition.
Men, let’s make our lives a testimony of God’s greatness. Don’t just say, “Praise the Lord.” Live so that others have reason to praise Him too!
