Genesis: God’s Glory Is The Fuel of Life
Scripture
Exodus 33:1-3; 12-23
Exodus 34: 5-7; 29-30
Digging Deeper
Throughout Scripture, God’s glory is revealed by His radiant presence, supreme majesty, and holiness. From the burning bush that called Moses (Exodus 3:2), to the cloud that filled the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1-3), and ending in the book of Revelation (Revelation 21:11) with the awesome description of the New Jerusalem, which is clothed in God’s glory in splendor and radiance, God’s glory is a display of His power and presence among us.
Isaiah 6:3 shares that the angels cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” God’s glory isn’t confined to heaven. It also fills the earth. We see it in creation, in His mighty works, and most importantly, in Jesus Christ.
John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” King Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God’s glory, showing us His love, righteousness, and power. But not only does Jesus reveal God’s glory, but he is also the fuel that keeps our lives burning brightly for God.
John 8:12 records Jesus saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Just as fire needs fuel to burn, our spiritual lives need Jesus to sustain us. Without Him, we burn out, but with Him, we shine brightly and vibrantly with the glory of God.
Finally, 2 Corinthians 3:18 reminds us, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” As we abide in Christ and are faithful disciples, Christ fuels us with His Spirit, transforming and changing us, making us more like Him.
Here are some responses we can have to the question of how we reflect God’s glory:
Worship Him – We let Jesus be the center of our lives, fueling our praise and devotion.
Reflect His Glory – We stay connected to Christ, allowing His power to shine through us to others. (Matthew 5:16).
Seek His Presence – We draw near to Jesus daily through prayer, His Word, and obedience, letting Him be the fuel that keeps us burning for God.
King Jesus is not just the revelation of God’s glory, He is the source that sustains it in us. May we live each day fueled by His presence, reflecting His radiant glory to the world!
What Not To Miss
The Main Point: Glory is the Fuel of Life
I. We Need GLORY to LIVE.
Exodus 33:18 – Moses asks, "Now show me your glory."
Moses has already seen God’s glory in many ways:
The burning bush.
The miracles in Egypt.
The revelation at Sinai.
Moses longs for more because life has been difficult. He needs to be refueled by God’s glory.
Moses is at a crossroads in life and asking God to reveal Himself in a way that overwhelms him, stupefies him, stuns him, amazes him, astounds him, woos him, draws him, and motivates and moves him forward.
What is Glory?
The word "glory" has two main meanings:
Weight/Heaviness – A sense of significance and substance.
Significance/Greatness – Something worthy of awe and worship.
We all long for glory—something weighty, meaningful, and amazing.
We, too, are waiting for something amazing—something that gives life true meaning and fuels our life.
II. Where Do We Look for Glory?
1. False Idols - The Israelites looked for glory in false idols by trying to create their own glory.
Exodus 32:1 – The Israelites built a golden calf when they felt distant from God.
Instead of waiting on God’s glory, they tried to create their own.
If the thing that we find glory in was created by us, how can it truly be bigger, weightier, mightier, more significant, more beautiful and more magnetic than us?
Principle: If you create glory, it is a counterfeit gimmick.
Modern Idols:
People (relationships, social approval)
Career, Money, Status
Sports, Entertainment
Religion (rituals without relationship with the Creator King)
2. Fading Success - The Israelites looked for glory in fading success by trading glory for worldly gain.
Exodus 33:1–3 – God offers Israel success with His presence.
Would you rather have:
The promise of worldly success without the presence of God?
God’s presence without the promise of worldly success?
Moses and Israel choose God’s presence.
Anything other than God, Himself, is not true glory. At best it is fading and fleeting success.
Principle: When you look for glory in all the wrong places, your heart will never be satisfied in all of life’s spaces.
3. True Glory – The presence of God.
Exodus 33:14-19 – God reveals His goodness and His name as His glory.
Moses wants God’s true glory.
God’s Glory = His Nature, Characteristics, and Attributes
Exodus 34:5–7 – God describes Himself as:
Compassionate
Gracious
Patient
Long-suffering
Loving
Faithful
Merciful
Just
Sovierign
Truthful
If you are looking for ultimate glory, look no further than God!
III. True Glory Lights Up Our Life.
Exodus 34:29-30 – When Moses came down from the mountain, his face was radiant.
Principle: You will GLOW your GLORY.
Whatever or whomever is your glory, you will take upon their nature, characteristics, attributes.
Whatever or whomever is your glory, you will be clothed with their name and they will become your glory.
Human beings were created to give off the glow of God’s glory.
If we glory in God, we will glow with His glory.
If we glory in God, His Glory will be the fuel of our life and all the nations.
In Jesus:
We see God face to face.
We find true glory.
We live.
We glow with the nature, character, and attributes of God.
That is why Jesus is the fuel of life. He is life.
The deeper we dive into knowing, seeing, and understanding Jesus, the more naturally we take upon ourselves His glory.
Life Application
During this week, take intentional steps to seek God’s glory and make Him the fuel of your life.
Seek God’s Presence Daily – Read Exodus 34:5-7 each day, write down one attribute of God that stands out to you, and meditate on how it impacts your life.
Identify and Replace False Glories – Examine where you might be seeking significance outside of God. This week, whenever you catch yourself chasing after these things, pause and redirect your focus to God, asking Him to be your source of glory.
Glow with God’s Glory – Be intentional about reflecting God’s nature to those around you. Choose one way to demonstrate His compassion, patience, or love by encouraging someone, extending forgiveness, or serving a need that God reveals to you. Ask God to help you reflect His glory as you go through your day.
At the end of the week, reflect on this question: How did seeking God’s glory fuel or change my perspective, actions, or heart?
Small Group Discussion
If you could only fuel your body with one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
The Israelites built the golden calf when they became distant from God. What are some "golden calves" people turn to today?
How does God define His glory in Exodus 34:5-7? Which of these attributes of God speaks to you most right now?
How does Jesus reveal God’s glory, and how does knowing Him fuel our lives?
What practical steps can you take this week to seek God’s glory more intentionally?
Daily Devotional Bible Passages
Day 1: Glory-Exodus 33:18; Psalm 19:1; 2 Corinthians 3:18
Day 2: Fuel-John 6:35; Matthew 4:4; Philippians 4:13
Day 3: Radiance-Exodus 34:29; Psalm 34:5; Matthew 17:2
Day 4: Transformation-Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6
Day 5: Worship-John 4:24; Psalm 29:2; Romans 12:1
Prayer
Lord, You alone are glorious! Forgive me for the times I have sought glory in the fleeting things of this world by chasing success, approval, comfort, or control, rather than finding my true satisfaction in You. Draw my heart closer to Your presence so that I may not be distracted by what the world offers and miss the glory of walking with You. Teach me to treasure You above all else and fill my soul with Your goodness, love, and faithfulness.
I ask that You transform me through the power of Jesus so that my life radiates Your glory and character, which is overflowing with compassion, grace, patience, truth, and love. May my words, actions, and desires point others to the only true source of life and meaning—King Jesus.
Jesus, I know that You are the fuel of life and You are life itself. Let Your glory fill and overflow from my heart into my life. May everything I do, say, and pursue be for Your glory alone.
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