When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (John 17:1-5 ESV)
In 1875, Fanny Crosby wrote the hymn, “To God be the Glory.” The lyrics of the hymn goes like this:
To God be the glory, great things he has done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give him the glory, great things he has done!
Great things he has taught us, great things he has done, and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son, but purer and higher and greater will be our joy and our wonder, when Jesus we see.
Fanny Crosby became blind at six weeks old. Though she wouldn't see Jesus in his full glory until she reached heaven, her life overflowed with faith and productivity. She wrote over 2,000 hymns, published 8,000 poems, and memorized the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch) along with the four Gospels. Notably, she was the first woman to have her voice heard in the Senate Chamber.
Her motto and philosophy mirrored Jesus' teachings – to glorify God in everything we do. Even without sight, she lived a life that praised God. She believed her blindness was a blessing, allowing her to receive a good education, wield great influence, and develop a remarkable memory.
I share Fanny Crosby's story and this popular hymn because it reflects the purpose of our lives as God's children: to bring glory to our Heavenly Father. This glory encompasses who He is, what He's done for us, and the future He promises – a glorious eternity in His presence.
Let's pray that every aspect of our lives can glorify God. May we accomplish what He has created us to do, bringing Him a level of glory beyond our comprehension.
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