Raise your hand if you want glory. I don’t see any hands. Ok, who wants recognition? Okay, I see you. There’s nothing wrong with people appreciating your value. However, we run into trouble when we believe our own hype. Having a positive self-esteem is great, but this belief becomes our downfall when we don’t recognize God as the source of it all. Our capability and capacity come from Him. We will eventually find ourselves in the valley when we believe that we brought ourselves to the top of the mountain. To prevent an unnecessary fall to humility, we benefit from a life lived for the glory of God.
The Story: 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
In 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, Paul advised the church at Corinth that everything should be done for the glory of God, including what we eat and drink. He acknowledged that he tried to please everyone in everything. His focus wasn’t on what was best for himself but for others. His goal was to see people serve as role models for Christ. Everything he did was for the glory of God.
The Lesson
As believers in Jesus, we’re His representatives. Our daily lives are to mirror Him because we display Jesus to others. So, we pray and ask God to lead and guide us. We ask Him to watch over us and even bless our food. These activities are our attempts to invite Him into our world. While these are noble, are our efforts for the glory of God?
Here’s what I mean. When we leave the privacy of our prayer closet and enter the world, what do people see? Do we operate as people who reflect Jesus? Prior to this week, I would’ve said that I reflect Jesus. Then, I noticed my interactions with people on a daily basis. First, I communicated with a coworker who wasn’t giving me the answers I wanted. My frustration level was on ten. After further research, I found out that I was wrong. Then again, I was chatting online with a store rep. She politely gave me the facts that I didn’t believe. So, I ended the conversation. After further research, I realized I was wrong again. At this point, God convicted me. My behavior and attitude weren’t for the glory of God.
After repenting, I thought about how easy it is to fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy. Yes, I have the mirror pointed at me so I can become a better witness for Jesus. How about you?
Look over your words and actions for this past week. Do they say that you’re a child of God? If not, then wholeheartedly repent, which requires a change from the old to the new. Yes, we will make mistakes; however, our objective should be to reflect the One who saves, heals, and delivers. Let’s choose not to remain in our errors but surrender to Him to become more like Him.
