Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Romans 15:7
One of the great themes of our hymns is the glory of God. The Psalms ring with this grand theme, angels proclaimed it at the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophets and patriarchs discussed it at length, and the apostles urged believers to do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). But the glory of God is far beyond our ability to understand; how do we have any involvement in this? It is true that we can grasp little of the actual glory of God, nor will eternity be long enough for us to take it in. But our text gives us an idea of how we can be involved in the promotion of the glory of God.
To give glory to God is to acknowledge His righteousness, to accept that His truth is true and that His actions are always right. Adam and his descendents deprived God of the glory that is rightfully His by accepting the devil’s lies in Eden. Mankind as a race continues to deprive God of His rightful glory by turning every one to his own way. The first time each of us brought glory to God was when we repented of our sins, confessed God’s condemnation of our sins, and trusted the atoning work of the cross. Since that time, we have had unending opportunities to give glory to God. He receives glory when we come to Him with our daily supplications and feed on His Word. He receives glory when we appreciate His people and His promises and His provision more than the people, promises, and provision of the world. He receives glory when we walk in obedience to His commandments that we love one another, that we enter the waters of baptism (and live in the daily display of what baptism means), that we forsake not the assembling of ourselves together, that we walk worthy of our holy calling. In addition, as our text declares, we bring glory to God as we receive one another.
Our text speaks of glory to God as Christ receives us. His receiving of us was at a time when we were unprofitable and unappreciative. Nothing about ourselves was behind His desire to reach and save us; His only motivation to do so was in love to us and in compassion for our helpless and hopeless state. His grace alone was His motivation. Grace should also be the motivation behind our receiving one another, including those who are not charitable toward us. The drawing of us to Christ was a one-sided effort. The reception of each other should be a two-sided effort. But even if it must be a one-sided effort, the effort should be put forth. Our Lord’s dealings with us should tell us that. Some people are easier to receive than others. That should make no difference. Our text gives us no option to pick and choose.
God receives His rightful due when sinners are brought into fellowship with Him. He also receives glory when His saints are brought into fellowship with each other. -Jim MacIntosh