Jaci Velasquez’s “Glory”
Hey there! How do you define glory?
Today we’re diving into the theology of Jaci Velasquez’s 1998 song, Glory.
What Does Glory Mean?
In her song, Jaci sings:
I see the glory, there’s glory all around. In the world, and glory has been found. It surrounds me and opens my mind and heart.
Glory is one of those churchy words that can feel hard to explain. I mean, I kind of get it in my gut, but when I try to define it, well, it gets tricky.
In the Bible, glory is a rich and nuanced concept, with layers of meaning in both the Old and New Testaments. Let me break it down into three main themes to help us understand.
Praise, Honor, and Worship
Glory can mean giving praise and worship to God. Think about verses like:
“Ascribe glory to the Lord, do His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.”
It’s all about recognizing and honoring God for who He is.
2. Acts and Deeds That Reflect God’s Majesty
Glory is also used to describe God’s acts and deeds—those things that manifest His power, splendor, and majesty. For example:
“The whole earth is full of His glory.”
We see His majesty in creation and in how He works in the world.
3. The Presence of God
In the Old Testament, glory is sometimes synonymous with the presence of God, like His glory filling the tabernacle.
Jesus: The Fulfillment of Glory
Jesus embodies all these meanings of glory. He manifests the splendor and majesty of God, glorifies Himself, and is the very presence of God. Paul tells us that the glory of God is found in the face of Jesus Christ and refers to Jesus as the Lord—or King—of Glory.
As believers, we experience God’s glory in a deeply personal way through the presence of Christ in us. And Christ in us has a purpose: to transform us, make us more like Him, and reflect Him to the world. When others see Jesus in us, they are pointed to God and give Him the worship He deserves.
This transformation is ongoing—a restoration in progress. But we also look forward to our completed restoration, our hope of glory, which is Christ in us.
Seeing Glory in Life’s Unexpected Stories
As Jaci’s lyrics remind us, glory opens our minds and hearts. God doesn’t waste anything. He uses both our joys and our pains to help us see His glory all around, even when we might have missed it before.
It’s a beautiful reminder that His glory is present in every moment—both the good and the hard ones.
Glory All Around
Take some time to listen to Jaci Velasquez’s Glory and reflect on its message. Let it remind you that God’s glory is everywhere, transforming us and working in our lives every step of the way.
And if you love exploring theology through the lens of 90s CCM, check out our book, Mixtape Theology. You can grab your copy here.
Let’s keep looking for His glory all around us. Bye for now!
-Rachel
