Continuing with “Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands,” the third grand theme of the Bible: God’s glory.
The center of the story of the Bible is the Lord. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Rom. 11:36). We are made for his glory and are called to display his gory in everything we do. However, sin leads us to be glory thieves, [taking His glory for ourselves].
At the bottom of every broken marriage, every shattered family, every forsaken friendship you will always find stolen glory. We want to be the center of our story and are willing to step on one another to get glory, credit, praise and attention. Sin leads us to steal God’s story and rewrite it with ourselves as the lead.
But, there is only one stage and it belongs to the Lord. Any attempt to put ourselves in his place puts us in a war with him…a fight for divine glory, a plot to take the very position of God.
[Think of how often we use humor to put someone down: “Hey, nerd, how’s your homework coming?” Why? Because it puts us at the center, makes the one who is better, smarter, in control. But it is the Lord who is truly better, smarter and in control because of His character. I just tried to steal His glory by stepping on someone weaker.]
We do not suffer well, because suffering interferes with our lust for glory. We do not find relationships easy, because others are always competing with us for glory. We do not serve well, because we want to be served.
But the story of Scripture is the story of the Lord’s glory. It calls me to an agenda that if far bigger than myself. It offers me something truly worth living for. There is no deeper personal joy and satisfaction than to live committed to his glory.
[This means thinking consistently of how to honor Him, how to please Him, how to serve Him rather than how to make myself look good.] Living for God’s glory would revolutionize every marriage, family, friendship and church.
[Let’s consider how we can stop being glory grabbers and instead become glory givers. The most simple and important step is to give thanks in all things. In doing so we affirm that our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them, is sovereign, full of grace and worthy of glory].
