A Pattern for Christian Endeavor (2)

Whatever we undertake to do in the Christian life, one overarching objective must guide: That God would be glorified.

This was why God raised up Pharaoh and threw Him down (Rom. 9.17). God revealed Himself to Israel in His glory as He came among them on Mt. Sinai. He led them by His glory through the wilderness forty years. And for His glory He drove the nations out and settled them in the land of promise.

As long as Israel sought the glory of God - His presence and honor among them - they knew His blessings. But the moment they began to think more of themselves and their interests than the Lord and His, the blessings of God slipped away.

Whatever we do as Christians, we must seek the glory of God first and always (1 Cor. 10.31). In our daily lives, our ministry activities, all our conversations, relationships, roles, and responsibilities - we are called to bring the living presence of the risen Christ into the midst, that others may sense Him and, with us, give Him honor and praise. Christ in us is our hope of glory; live in and for Him, and God will get glory through your life.

Whatever we are doing which is not to this end will be focused only on ourselves. God is able to meet our needs, but He calls us to seek Him and not our needs, first and foremost. We glorify God when we live as though He is in everything we do, every word we speak, every moment of our day. When His grace, compassion, truth, power, and living presence are visible in all we do, we draw the world's attention to Him, and not to ourselves. For us to live is Christ, and the life we live in the flesh we live by the power of the Son of God Who saved us. Let all the glory go to Him!

God alone is worthy of such glory. When we know Him in His glory, as Paul said we may (2 Cor. 3.12-18), we will live for Him by showing His glory to those around us. Any lesser objective for any area of our lives is not consistent with our redemption or our calling.

Since we can live to God's glory, let us strive to do so. Nothing else matters nearly so much.

Related texts: Mathew 5.13-16; Colossians 3.23, 24

A conversation starter: "Whose glory are you seeking in your life?"

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.