Romans 11:36 - To God Be Glory Forever! Amen.
Romans 11:36 - To God Be Glory Forever! Amen.
Romans 11:36 (NIV) For from him and through him and to him are
all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:36 (NLT) For everything comes from him and exists by
his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever!
Amen.
Romans 11:36 (AMP) For from Him and through Him and to Him are
all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him;
all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to
consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).
Romans 11:36 (CWR) God has made all things. Everything begins
with Him, comes to us because of Him and is used by Him to work out
His purposes. To such a God be glory and honor forever. Amen!
Romans 11:36 (MSG) Everything comes from him; Everything happens
through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
The theology of Romans 9-11 magnifies God's grace and extols His
sovereignty. Never lose the wonder of your salvation or of the greatness of
God. No matter how deep the valley or difficult the battle, a vision
of God's greatness puts joy in your heart and strength in your
soul. God knows what He is doing even if you do not understand it
fully... We cannot explain all the purposes and plans of God, but we can
worship and praise Him for who He is (vv. 33-36). The end result of all
Bible study is worship, and the end result of all worship is service
to the God we love. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren
Wiersbe]
This verse gives the reason why no one can make God his debtor.
For all things were created by Him (see Acts 17:24, 25; 1 Cor. 8:6).
All created things owe their continuing existence and activity to
Him who still "worketh all in all" (1 Cor. 12:6; cf. Acts 17:28;
Heb. 2:10). And all things are directed toward the working out of His
purposes and the glory of His name... With this brief but sublime doxology
Paul comes to the end of the more doctrinal and argumentative section
of his epistle. [SDA Bible Commentary]
God alone is the possessor of absolute power and absolute
wisdom. In the final analysis, all of us are absolutely dependent on
God. He is the source of all things, including ourselves. He is the
power that sustains and rules the world that we live in. And God works
out all things to bring glory to himself. The all-powerful God
deserves our praise. [Life Application SB]
"Doxology" is a compound term, from doxa, glory, and logos,
word. Together they mean a "glorifying word"; an expression of praise
that glorifies God.
The doxology that concluded Paul's survey of Israel's
relationship with God and the Gospel expressed praise for the complexity and
beauty of God's plan. It was as if Paul had picked up a diamond cut by
a master craftsman, and saw brilliant lights reflected from a
multitude of facets. And suddenly he would find his heart filled with
praise of the variegated wisdom, the vast knowledge, the intricate
matrix of God's plan.
Theologians argue over Israel. Is there a future for Israel
as Israel? Or is Israel today integrated within the church, which
has inherited the ancient promises of the prophets? Personally I
think the church and Israel are separate facets of a single,
beautiful, complex divine plan. I think that this is exactly what Paul
taught in Romans 11:25-32, with his reminder that "all Israel will be
saved" and that God's "gifts and His call are irrevocable."
Perhaps verses 35-36 have an even more direct application to
you and me. From my perspective I can only see a tiny facet of what
God is doing in the world. I see my tiny circle of brothers and
sisters. I know the prayers He answers for us, the little daily miracles
He performs. But all too often I forget that there are literally
millions in this world who experience God as I do. Who see Him at work.
And who rejoice in His goodness.
If you or I could travel out in space, we'd see a globe
inhabited now by over 5 billion human beings! And, if we had the spiritual
sight, and each work God performed gave off an instantaneous flash,
this globe would be alight with millions of points of brilliant
light!
Perhaps then we would catch a glimpse of the qualities of God
that Paul praised here. And we would say with him, in awe, "Oh, the
depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" And, in
renewed love, we would cry, "To Him be the glory forever! Amen!" [The
365-Day Devotional Commentary re vv. 25-36]
"To Whom Be Glory For Ever. Amen" Romans 11:36. This should
be the single desire of the Christian. All other wishes must be
subservient and tributary to this one. The Christian may wish for prosperity
in his business, but only so far as it may help him to promote
this-"To him be glory forever." He may desire to attain more gifts and
more graces, but it should only be that "To him may be glory
forever." You are not acting as you ought to do when you are moved by any
other motive than a single eye to your Lord's glory. As a Christian,
you are "of God, and through God," then live "to God." Let nothing
ever set your heart beating so mightily as love to him. Let this
ambition fire your soul; be this the foundation of every enterprise upon
which you enter, and this your sustaining motive whenever your zeal
would grow chill; make God your only object. Depend upon it, where
self begins sorrow begins; but if God be my supreme delight and only
object,
"To me 'tis equal whether love ordain
My life or death-appoint me ease or pain."
Let your desire for God's glory be a growing desire. You
blessed him in your youth, do not be content with such praises as you
gave him then. Has God prospered you in business? Give him more as he
has given you more. Has God given you experience? Praise him by
stronger faith than you exercised at first. Does your knowledge grow?
Then sing more sweetly. Do you enjoy happier times than you once had?
Have you been restored from sickness, and has your sorrow been turned
into peace and joy? Then give him more music; put more coals and more
sweet frankincense into the censer of your praise. Practically in your
life give him honour, putting the "Amen" to this doxology to your
great and gracious Lord, by your own individual service and increasing
holiness. [Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon]
Jill Briscoe says when she struggles with the discouragements
of aging, her husband, Stuart, helps her (with a wry smile) by
saying she needs to get her theology straight - that she was born at
the right moment and will be "dead on time." She recognizes that
life has been good to her, and she naturally wants to stay alive -
yet what does that desire say about her view of God and heaven?
She contrasts the attitudes of two women dying of cancer. One
was a friend who said she wasn't angry about her life being cut
short. She had had a marvelous life and expected heaven to be even
better. "It's my time and it's all right."
The other woman, who was young, said that when she'd
discovered she had cancer, "I hit out at everyone in sight. It was so
unfair. I hadn't had time to do everything I wanted to do. Mostly I was
mad at God."
Dead on time. Trust in God. Mad at God. Those phrases start
to describe the mixed emotions most of us have when it comes to our
deaths or the deaths of our loved ones. Death is an enemy and a
terrible rending of the fabric of our lives. Then again, do we really
believe all the promises of salvation and eternal life?
It's an interesting commentary that people today pay enormous
sums to gain just an additional week or month of life. For many, life
has indeed been very good, and they will spare nothing to prolong
it.
In faith, we access modern medicine with as much wisdom as we
can muster. Yet at times we need restraint because we know that
death is inevitable and heaven is sure. Stuart Briscoe is right that
we were born on time, we will have adequate time to fulfill the
roles God gives us on earth, and we will be "dead on time."
Then comes eternal glory.
Lord, help me to get my theology straight. Let my brief time
on this earth be spent fully in step with your Spirit, starting
right now. Guide me so that what I do will be fruitful and will honor
you.
Everything comes from him and exists by his power and is
intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. Romans 11: 36 NLT
[The One Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra]
SOME GREAT PRAISE VIDEOS:
With All I Am (By Hillsong)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns&feature=related
I Can Only Imagine (by MercyMe)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII&feature=related
