In Galatians 1:5 (ESV) Paul writes, “to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” This is the glorious doxology. We see this over and over again in the bible. To God be the glory! Forever! In light of his intro describing who he is and what the good news is concerning Christ, Paul is placing a clear statement to the misguided church of Galatia that giving God glory and praise should be at the top of everyone’s priority list. The word “amen” at the conclusion of his opening means the statement is true and trustworthy. Many people use the phrase “so be it” as the meaning of amen, but the Galatians would have known it to mean “truth” sort of when someone says today “preach it” or an emphatic statement by saying the word “truth!” on its own. What, then, is the ultimate truth? God deserves now and forever more the glory which is a true and right statement. Nothing could be more right or true. While we might be inclined to blindly agree with that statement, what exactly is glory? 

Glory means honor, it means magnificent splendor and beauty, it means respect. To give glory to God means to give importance to Him over all other things. I sit here knowing in my head this is true, knowing in my heart this is true. To GOD be the glory. But then there is again… my worldly flesh constantly gnawing at my soul saying NO I WANT TO BE IN CHARGE! How insidious. How irritating. But then sometimes I let it. I let it in. I can feel the slip. LORD help me. LORD deliver me. To YOU be the glory. To YOU be everything. I long for humility. To be nothing not only in front of you but to be nothing when I am at my worst. To be nothing when my flesh cries the battle cry of “Unfair!” and “I am right!” and “I deserve that!” All these are selfishness in it’s pure form. Selfishness my soul wants no part in yet my flesh screams and stomps its feet in protest to have. There is beauty in the battle. Beauty in the process. I have come to look back with loving affection at the hard trials I have gone through and have resolved to remember them when I go through the next one. With each trial I come closer to the goal. The goal of complete humility and the full, pure holy cry, TO GOD BE THE GLORY!