Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1
Who should receive glory? GOD ALONE! Glory does not go to: us, anything that looks like us, anything that comes from us, or anything that is around us. This statement is true for the past, now, and all times. More importantly, Psalm 115:1, God’s Word, is true for all times, and God is the supreme example of love and faithfulness as is evident throughout the pages of the Bible! (The best example is that He sent His Son, Jesus, to the world to be a sacrifice for our sins! See John 3:16.)
In Biblical times, many worshipped man-made idols. Are you thinking how absurd it is for people to worship things they produced with their own hands? Yes, you’re correct. And it’s equally absurd for people to worship anything or anyone besides God: self, people, money, fame, or position. How can we keep this from ever happening to us?
If we all truly had the correct perspective of how great and magnificent God truly is as Lord, Savior, Creator, and King, we would be awestruck by His wonderful and powerful Presence for an eternity and give Him glory alone! Don’t you see? The more we know Him and draw closer to Him through His Word, in faith, and in prayer, the more that love for Him keeps intensifying and growing. Let’s guard our hearts so that HE alone is worshipped and adored passionately!
I know of someone who had it right…who spoke passionately in the wilderness over two thousand years ago! I really like this man, this prophet, this one who boldly spoke about Jesus and made Him the focus in his life. John the Baptist took the opportunities he had to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’” (John 1:29). He was bold, but not proud. He knew who he himself was in comparison to Jesus (extremely lower than Jesus). When referring to Jesus, John the Baptist said, “He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:27). I’ll give you this – John the Baptist was very different. But that was good, and that was God-glorifying good! Because you see, from God’s perspective, that‘s what He wanted from John the Baptist!
John the Baptist spoke with God-glorifying purpose “…saying, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near’” (Matthew 3:2). We also want to live with God-glorifying purpose in various ways daily.
And like John the Baptist, we want to have the correct perspective of Who Jesus is so that we can worship Him and give Him glory as our one true God. We want to have the correct perspective of ourselves (sinners who always need a Savior and who are lavished in His love). And we need a surrendered perspective to step out boldly and differently, if need be, in order to achieve His God-glorifying purposes in our lives for Him.
Like the Jews written about in Psalm 115:1 and like John the Baptist, we want to worship God alone and give glory to Him alone!
And like John the Baptist, wouldn’t we rather be
in the light,
walking odd for God …
than in the dark,
walking proud with the crowd?
I would.
I’d rather be different and hoping to bring Him glory than blending in with the many who don’t desire to at all.
* * * * *
Dear Lord, help us all to give You alone great glory and be grateful daily for what You have done in our lives. We love You and praise You! In Jesus’ precious Name.
Amen.
