Category Archives: Abilities

Stealing God’s Glory

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That’s What Pride Does

At the top of God’s “hate” list is PRIDE: “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him…” (Proverbs 6:16-19). Care to guess what’s #1 on the list? It’s “…a proud look.” God hates pride because it’s humanity’s attempt to steal glory that belongs only to Him! Only God is due glory because all glory was His from the beginning of creation. Remember that! All that exists is “GOD” and “everything He has created.” That’s it! There is nothing else! So, when we speak about the “glory of a sunset,” the sun didn’t create that glory! God created it! The sun is just borrowing it until God wants it back. The “glory” of the 28 Olympic medals that Michael Phelps won is not his glory— it’s God’s! Creator God gave him those abilities. He’s just borrowing a glory that belongs to God until God decides He wants it back.

American Pride Is Deadly

In Isaiah 42:8, God says: “I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.” The Apostle Paul ends the book of Romans with these words: “To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ— to Him be the glory forever! Amen!” (Romans 16:27). We face deadly consequences when we lift ourselves up in pride and steal God’s glory. That’s a hard message to preach here in the good old U.S. of A. We talk about being “proud Americans.” We’re proud of our rugged individualism. We put up billboards and sing songs about it. But if you’re a child of God, don’t go there! Don’t wear your “American patriotism” first. This place is not where you hold your citizenship, as Scripture says (Philippians 3:20).

Aliens & Temporary Residents

We are called by God to live our lives here as aliens and temporary residents (1 Peter 1:17; 2:11-12). When we lift ourselves up in pride and deny God the glory due His name, it negatively impacts the way we think. The Apostle Paul speaks of certain men and women: “…though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:21-22). Pride can really mess you up badly!

Thinking Nonsense

We lose our ability to look at the world and draw accurate conclusions when we reject the glory of God. Our reasoning becomes skewed when we fail to acknowledge the “fingerprints” of God on everything. Paul adds, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” We actually see this when we look at the people of the world! Normally intelligent people—denying God’s existence and denying that the glory of creation belongs to Him—come up with some of the most bizarre theories about our existence, even believing it more plausible that aliens from another solar system brought humanity here. That’s some of the foolish ideas scientists propose when they deny and dismiss God the glory He is due for creation. We exchange the glory of an Immortal Creator for the “glory” of created things. We accept cheap substitutes.
 

Dismissing God’s Glory

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Pride Is Like False Advertising

Have you ever checked the label on a bottle of juice? I mean, really checked it? Recently, I picked up a bottle of juice that said it was “Blueberry Pomegranate, 100% Juice, All Natural” on the front label, along with a picture of a ripe pomegranate and lots of plump, perfect blueberries. But then I read the list of ingredients: “Filtered water, pear juice concentrate, apple juice concentrate, and grape juice concentrate.” So, where are the blueberries? And where is the pomegranate, I wondered. Finally, I found them listed as the fifth and seventh ingredients on a list of nine! Then, the friendly lady in the health food aisle informed me that, by law, food ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. Did you know that? This means a product contains the greatest proportion of the first ingredient on the list, with successively smaller amounts of the ones that follow. So, according to the list on the bottle I held, it contained mostly water and other juices, with just enough blueberry and pomegranate for flavor and color. I put it back on the shelf. The pictures and clever labeling were enticing, but I would call that a form of false advertising! 

An Illustration Of Human Pride

It was disguised to look like something that it wasn’t! That seems to illustrate human pride to me. What if we use that bottle of juice to illustrate what it’s like when we’re proud of our work, our intellect, our earning power, our standing in the community, our house, our car, our neighborhood, or our kids’ accomplishments? The clever label says we’re a “self-made man” or a “self-made woman.” We’re a rising star! We’re prosperous! We’re going places! We’re a mover and a shaker! But the ingredients listed on the side don’t lie. God says: “Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone called by my name and created for my glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:6-7). We were created for His glory, not our own. He formed us; He made us. As for the gifts, talents, and abilities we take credit for—the things we’re tempted to take pride in—the rest of the ingredients on the list don’t lie.

It All Comes From Him

According to the Apostle Paul, the “ingredient list” on the side panel of our lives says, “For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Everything we have comes from Him, and we face deadly consequences when we deny God the glory. It is not an insignificant matter when we dismiss or deny the glory due His name. Human pride is deadly! I’ve said before that human pride is our attempt to steal God’s glory, and that is why God’s Word says in Proverbs, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him…” And what’s number one on the list? “A proud look” (Proverbs 6:16-19). All glory has belonged to God from the beginning of creation. All glory in the world is ultimately a reflection of the glory God gave it.

Our Gifts Aren’t For Us

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Given To You By God

It’s our default setting to use all gifts, talents, and abilities for personal gain and advancement in this world! But God didn’t gift us for our own personal benefit! Your gifts, your talents, your personality and charm, and your intellect were given to you by God to manage or steward over in a way that brings Him greater glory! Are you leveraging all those things for the glory of God? Here’s what the Apostle Peter said about it: “Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever.” 1 Peter 4:10-11. 

The Purpose of Your Gift

Did you notice the end of v.11? The purpose of your giftedness is, “…so that GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED through Jesus Christ IN EVERYTHING. To HIM BELONG THE GLORY…” Don’t compartmentalize your life— this is CHURCH; that’s God’s part. But, this is my WORK; that’s ABOUT ME! We can compartmentalize God right out of our life! No! God has gifted us to bring Himself glory IN EVERYTHING! In ALL of life! There is no area of your life where God does not intend to bring Himself glory! So, what motivates you? Are you motivated to live your life for God’s glory, or for your own? 

Gifts Empowered By The Spirit

God’s method is to empower our gifts by His Spirit so that He receives all the glory! This is how the exercising of your gifts, talents, and intellect brings glory to God! The only way we bring Him glory in all of life’s activities is when we exercise them under the power and control of God’s Holy Spirit! When our dependence—in the doing and the living of life—is not in ourselves or our giftedness, but on God’s Spirit! If you’re ‘speaking’ (v.11) or ‘serving’— “…it should be from the strength that God provides…” Don’t miss this crucial point in exercising your gifts in a way that brings God glory! You cannot depend on your giftedness when you speak or when you serve—or God is not glorified!

When We Fail To Bring Him Glory

You can be a gifted speaker, even speak ‘on God’s behalf,’ but if it’s not ‘…from the words God provides…,’ then God is neither blessed nor glorified by them! They are words— even ‘good words’— but they are spoken in the power of the flesh! You can serve— teach Sunday School, sing or play on the Worship Team, help kids learn Scripture in AWANA— but if your service is not done by ‘…the strength that God provides…,’ then God is neither blessed nor glorified by your service! They are deeds—even ‘good deeds’—but they are done in the flesh! I still believe that the Holy Spirit remains the greatest untapped power of the Church! It’s a power untapped because we so rarely lean on God’s Holy Spirit! We lean on our gifts more than we do the Creator and the Giver of those gifts! This has to change, Church!
 

How Do We Bring God Glory?

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The Gift Each One Has

We often talk about living a life that glorifies God, but what does that look like? How do we flesh that out? According to the Apostle Peter, we bring glory to God by yielding to His Spirit’s work to transform us into Christ’s likeness. He says: “Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others as good stewards of God’s varied grace. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever.” (1 Peter 4:10-11)

3 Points About God’s Glory

Peter seems to make three points about bringing God glory. First, God’s purpose for “gifting” us is to bring glory to Himself. Second, our motive, as we use our gifts, should be to glorify God with them. Finally, God’s method is to empower our gifts by His Spirit, so He gets the ultimate glory as they are being used. It’s ultimately God’s purpose to bring glory to Himself as we use the gifts He has given us! While the immediate interpretation of the “gifts” here is related to the “gifts of the Spirit,” in the broader context, it could be argued that Peter means for us to include our talents, abilities, and anything else that makes us uniquely “us.” God has given you everything that makes you you—all your gifts, talents, abilities, personality, outward appearance, etc. And, what Peter seems to be saying is that He’s given you all that for Him! For His Glory!

The Varied Grace of God

None of these things that are unique to us as individuals are to be used selfishly, nor do we have any reason to be arrogant or prideful about any of it, since it’s all been given to us by our gracious God! Everyone has been gifted by God— some more, some less— “according to the varied grace of God.” Then he offers two examples—of speaking and serving—and how these gifts are to be used only in such a way “that God may be glorified… to Him belong the glory and the power” (v. 11). God has purposely and intentionally given us all the “stuff” that makes us who we are so that we would bring Him glory as we use them, not for our own glory! Glory belongs to God alone, Peter says!

We Are Tools In God’s Hands

I’m not much of a handyman, but I have a great deal of appreciation for those men and women who are! I’ve found that most handy people have specialized tools for certain repairs. There’s a specific tool for everything! That’s how God purposes to use us. He’s made us all different with our unique gifts, personalities, and talents. We’re each a special tool in God’s tool chest, and He intends to use us in each specific instance to bring Himself greater glory. But God is only glorified when we use our gifts out of a motivation to see Him glorified— “use it,” Peter says, “as good managers of the varied grace of God” (v. 10). There’s an expectation of intentionality. Don’t just float through life, living off all the good gifts God has blessed you with. Manage well, so as to bring God glory in everything you do!

God’s Glory Is A Big Deal

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The Beauty Of His Character

God deserves all glory because He alone has designed everything, and His name is on everything! It’s His name that adds value to humanity and to the rest of creation! So, when we speak about God’s glory, we define it as “the essence and beauty of His Spirit.” We’re not referring to His material or aesthetic beauty—like we typically define human beauty—but to the beauty of His character—to all that He is! John Piper defines God’s glory as “the manifest beauty of His holiness.” Holiness points to His absolute “uniqueness.” 

The Goal Of All Things

He is one-of-a-kind! He is in a totally separate class all by Himself! There is no other God like Him! “O nations of the world, recognize the Lord, recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor” (1 Chronicles 16:28-29, NLT). God’s glory is a really big deal to God, and it’s a big deal in the Holy Scriptures! The goal of all things is God’s glory! And I’m not overstating that one iota!

Creator and Creation

Let’s not forget that there is God and there is everything He created! That’s it! There is nothing else! And in the original creation—before sin—God declared that all of creation was good! Why? Because all of creation reflected God’s beauty, so it all brought Him… glory! In a similar fashion, we say that an artist’s painting is a reflection of the artist, and the artist’s work brings him a certain “glory!” God has blessed humanity with certain creative abilities, but they’re all small “c—creative” because all mankind’s creative abilities were received from the capital “C—Creator” God. So, every “artist”—who is a true disciple of Jesus—will redirect all praise received to Creator God! In part, that is one way that we bring God glory—by redirecting all praise and compliments received to God who created us with those abilities! We acknowledge that whatever talent or ability we have is on loan from God! It ultimately belongs to Him! Our greatest preoccupation must be with God’s glory because that’s our reason and purpose for existence!

Mandated To Give God Glory

Here’s an observation from the 1 Chronicles 16 text: the writer, King David, was inspired by God’s Spirit to offer this mandate regarding God’s glory. This is an imperative or a command to “declare God’s glory” (v.28). When David became king, he determined to make worship a priority again in Israel. One of his first acts was to return the Ark of the Covenant, which had been neglected under King Saul, back to Jerusalem. In the process, David preaches this great message that is included as the inspired Word of God. That means it’s authoritative—not because David said it, but because God inspired him to say it! So, “declare God’s glory,” he says! Don’t just study it and keep it to yourself. We’re commanded to declare it, and that’s a general statement that means to declare it everywhere to everyone.

Daniel: From Pride To Praise

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Vacation Time! My Next Post Is Scheduled For September 20th

(Note: This is the 13th in a series of posts on Daniel’s life)

Taking Personal Credit

What are the things in your life that people tend to notice & compliment you over? Is it your intelligence? Or, maybe you’re an attractive person; so, people notice your good looks! Or, is it your wardrobe? Are you a snappy dresser? Maybe it’s your wit! How clever you are! Or, do people compliment you for your talents? Maybe you’re a gifted musician, artist, or athlete! Perhaps people praise you for your work ethic; or, for your leadership abilities. Maybe it’s your house, your car; or, some other material thing that draws a compliment! How do you respond? Do you take credit personally when someone compliments you? Do you accept the glory & praise for those things because you think you deserve it?

Bragging And Self-Promotion

Perhaps there are things about you that you wish people would notice & offer you a compliment for! Maybe you feel inclined to kind of point out, to others, your superior talents or abilities— do a little bragging and self-promotion! When I look back at my earlier life I see many times where I was filled with pride! Many times where I bragged about myself! Those memories bring me shame because I attempted to steal glory that wasn’t mine! When I was complimented for something, I accepted the glory & praise that should be directed to God alone! I know that as long as I live in this sin-plagued body I’ll be tempted, by my flesh & depravity, to think prideful thoughts about myself!

Offering Praise To God Alone

Oh how I give praise to God for the work He’s done in me— and, continues to do— through His Spirit! He quickly points out those times I begin to swell up with pride; and, He helps me to confess it for the sin that it is & to redirect all praise to Him! Scripture often contrasts God’s judgment toward those individuals who allow pride to rule their lives with the blessings He provides to those who humble themselves before Him & others! Pride is our attempt to steal glory from God! Any time we take credit for anything, that’s our prideful attempt to steal God’s glory! “What do you have that you’ve not been given?” Paul asks the Church of Corinth (1 Cor. 4:7).  Humble yourself; or, God will do it for you! And it’s much less severe or painful if we choose to humble ourselves before Him; rather than face His judgment against our pride!

Failure Can Be A Gift

King Nebuchadnezzar had been warned, by Daniel, to give God the glory! But, one day, as he walked on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, he said to himself: “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence & to display my majestic glory?” (Daniel 4:30) It wasn’t that the king didn’t build Babylon; or that he didn’t have power. His error was taking credit for those things. The verses that follow declare that a voice came from heaven, while those words were still in the King’s mouth, “…the kingdom has departed from you. You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals…until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men…” God commands us to humble ourselves; and, we can do it the easy way by confession & repentance; or, we can do it the hard way & force God’s hand— that’s not recommended!  Make no mistake! “Every knee will bow & every tongue will confess” that Jesus is Lord & we are NOT!

Ungodly Men & Ungodly Laws!

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-We Don’t Have To Take Care Of Ourselves!

The Old Testament prophet, Daniel, viewed himself as nothing more than God’s humble servant. He didn’t take himself too seriously! He saw himself as just one piece in God’s sovereign plan for the world! Though life circumstances, no doubt, made him fearful at times; fear did not control him! When we get over our fear, we can kind of “let go” & “let God” use us however He wants. I don’t have to take care of myself. God takes care of me! God shows us, in Daniel’s story, how we ought to respond when ungodly men make ungodly laws.

-Bow Down & Worship!

In Daniel, chapter 3, Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar, builds a 90’ tall gold statue of himself; and, demands that everyone bow down & worship it; or, be thrown into a fiery furnace. That would be a problem for Daniel’s 3 Hebrew friends— Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah! They had been raised in good Jewish homes. They knew the commandments Yahweh had given to Moses in Exodus 20— “I  am the LORD your God; do not have any other gods besides me; do not make an idol for yourself; You must not bow down to them or worship them.” So, here they were between a rock; and, a hard place! Obey the King & face God’s judgment; or, obey God & face the fiery furnace.

-An Awkward Moment!

Get the picture? There are probably thousands of people, representing all the nations that Babylon had subdued; all, waiting for the sound of the music. They hear it; and, everyone bows down & worships the gold image except 3 men. They had to know that their insubordination wouldn’t go unnoticed. And, it wasn’t:  “Some of the Chaldeans took this occasion to come forward and maliciously accuse them” (3:8). So, they are made to stand before King Nebuchadnezzar; and, they “…replied to the king, ‘Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question.  If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up’” (3:16-18).

-God Is Able To Deliver!

Enraged by their insubordination, the king demanded that they be thrown into the furnace. But, they determined to obey God rather than the king; and, trust God to do whatever he willed. They had faith that God was able to deliver them; but, even if He didn’t, they would not bow to the king’s image. There is a great application to take from their example—we need to be careful we don’t make claims for God on His behalf! We may think that God has to respond in a certain way; but, our knowledge is finite! His ways are higher than ours! So, don’t make promises for God that He doesn’t make!

-How Our Story Ends!

We can’t make demands on God about how our personal story ends! They trusted that God would deliver them either by a miracle; or, by death! We have to be careful that our trust in God is not limited to delivery by miracle! Their trust in God was not just tied to delivery from the furnace:  “…EVEN IF He does NOT,” they said, “we won’t bow to false gods!” That’s a gospel response. Sadly, the gospel being preached in the majority of our American churches is all about “me.” It’s man-centered; and, not God-centered! So, if He doesn’t deliver me from the furnace I won’t trust Him! That’s where false teaching begins… with man’s ways! King Nebuchadnezzar took credit for his accomplishments; when, it was God who blessed him with his abilities! I read somewhere that:  “Pride is like plagiarism because it attempts to take for ourselves Glory that belongs to God alone.” God will not share His glory with you! Humble yourself before Him.

Give Yourself Away!

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-That’s True Greatness!

True greatness, in God’s Kingdom, is not shown by exercising power; but, in giving yourself away to others! Jesus contrasted the leadership style, of the kingdoms of this world, with that of God’s Kingdom, when He called His disciples together and said to them:  “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many” Mark 10:42-45.

-Jesus Made Himself A Slave!

Jesus didn’t use His title—  “GOD” —as a big stick! At the incarnation, when He became flesh, Paul said, in Philippians, that He assumed the form of a “SLAVE.” The Greek word used there, “Doulos”, is the same word Mark uses in v.44. Jesus came to be a “SLAVE” in order that He might serve us & give away His life for us! In God’s economy, He calls you great when you, like Jesus, voluntarily ENSLAVE yourself to the people of the world & serve them! Don’t miss the significance!

-Not To Be Served!

Even God, Himself, did not come to be served. He came TO serve by making Himself a ransom for sinners. We generally think of a ransom as a payoff or a redemption demanded for the release of a hostage. It’s money that’s “given away” so the person, taken hostage, can be released from their bondage. Jesus was teaching His disciples that He didn’t come as a Gentile ruler, showing off how powerful He was! He could have! But, He didn’t! That was not His way.

-Jesus Made Himself A Ransom!

He came to give His life away as a ransom, for us; so, that we could be set free from our bondage to sin. That’s the good news of the Gospel! And, we’re called to live out our lives in the same way— to give them away, “Jesus-like”! So that the world will take notice that the followers, of Jesus, are not like this world’s leaders! We don’t strut! We serve! Jesus served us ‘til it hurt— ’til it killed Him! I’ve known very few Christians who’ve served ‘til it hurt! I can’t say that I have personally experienced any kind of pain from serving others! It’s never cost me blood!

-Make It Count!

Don’t give yourself away to a company; or, to a house full of stuff! Give yourself away to people! Be available! Make your time count for eternal things! If you’re too busy, repent & give your agenda to Jesus! One day we’re all going to stand before God & He’s going to ask us, “What did you do with what I gave you? Your talents? Your abilities? Your background? Your experiences? Your education?” You don’t want to tell Him, “Well, I was kinda busy with my own ambitions and plans.” Or, God’s going to say, “What were you thinking? Do you really think I put you on My earth to live for yourself? I put you here to represent Me & to serve the lost who don’t know Me!” Trust me, all you want to hear that day is:  “Well done, good & faithful servant!”

 

Stealing God’s Glory!

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-That’s What Pride Does!

At the top of God’s “hate” list is PRIDE— “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him…” Proverbs 6:16-19.  Care to guess what’s #1 on the LIST? It’s “…A PROUD LOOK…” God hates pride because it’s man’s attempt to steal glory that belongs only to Him!  Only God is due glory; because, all glory was His from the beginning of Creation.  Remember that! All that exists is “GOD” & “everything He has created”! That’s it! There is nothing else! So, when we speak about the “glory of a sunset”, the sun didn’t create that glory! God created it! The sun is just borrowing it until God wants it back! The “glory” of the 28 Olympic Medals that Michael Phelps won is NOT his glory! It’s God’s! Creator God gave him those abilities! He’s just borrowing a glory—that belongs to God—until God decides He wants it back!

-American Pride Is Deadly!

In Isaiah 42:8 God says: “I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.” And, the Apostle Paul ends the book of Romans with these words:  “To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—TO HIM be the GLORY FOREVER! AMEN!” Romans 16:27. We face deadly consequences when we lift ourselves up, in pride, and steal God’s glory! That’s a hard message to preach here in the good old U.S. of A. We talk about being “PROUD Americans”! We’re proud of our rugged individualism! We put up billboards & sing songs about it! But, if you’re a child of God, don’t go there! Don’t wear your “American Patriotism” first! This place is NOT where you hold your citizenship Scripture says (Philippians 3:20).

-Aliens & Temporary Residents!

We’re called, of God, to live our lives here as aliens & temporary residents (1 Peter 1:17; 2:11-12).  So, when we lift ourselves up in pride & deny God the glory due His name, it actually has a negative impact on the way we think!  The Apostle Paul speaks of certain men & women, that “…though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools…” Rom 1:21-22.  Pride can really mess you up badly!

-Thinking Nonsense!

We lose our ability to look at the world & draw accurate conclusions when we reject the glory of God! Our reasoning ability becomes skewed when we fail to acknowledge the “finger prints” of God on everything! Claiming to be wise, they become fools, Paul adds. And, we actually see this when we look at the people of the world! Normally intelligent people—but; denying God’s existence & denying that the glory of creation belongs to Him—come up with some of the most bizarre theories for our existence! Even, believing it more plausible that aliens, from another solar system, brought humanity here! That’s some of the foolish stuff scientists will offer when they deny & dismiss God the glory He is due for creation! We exchange the GLORY of an Immortal Creator for the “glory” of created things! We accept cheap substitutes!

 

Dismissing God’s Glory!

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-Pride Is Like False Advertising!

Have you ever checked the label on a bottle of juice? I mean, really checked it?  Recently, I picked up a bottle of juice that said it was “Blueberry Pomegranate, 100% Juice, All Natural” on the front label with a picture of a ripe pomegranate & lots of plump, perfect blueberries! But, then I read the list of ingredients—“Filtered water; Pear juice concentrate; Apple juice concentrate & Grape juice concentrate.” So, where are the BLUEBERRIES? And, where is the POMEGRANATE, I thought? Finally, I found them listed #5 and #7 on a list of 9 ingredients! Now, the nice lady in the health food aisle informed me that, by law, food ingredients are listed in descending order of weight! Did you know that? That means a product contains the greatest proportion of the 1st ingredient on the list & successively less the further down you go! So, according to the list, on the bottle in my hand, it contained mostly water & other juices with just enough blueberry & pomegranate for flavor and color! I put it back on the shelf! The pictures & the clever labeling were enticing; but, I would call that a form of false advertising!

-An Illustration Of Human Pride!

It was disguised to look like something that it wasn’t! That seems like it illustrates human pride to me! What if we use that bottle of juice to illustrate what it’s like when we’re proud of our work; or, our intellect; or, our earning power; or, our standing in the community; or, we’re proud of our house, our car, our neighborhood; or, our kids accomplishments! The clever label says we’re a “self-made man”; or, a “self-made woman”! We’re a rising star! We’re prosperous! We’re going places! We’re a mover & a shaker! But, the ingredients listed on the side don’t lie—God says: “Bring MY sons from far away & MY daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone called by MY name and created for MY Glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him” Isaiah 43:6-7.  We were created for HIS Glory, not our own! HE formed us! He made us! As for the gifts, talents, and abilities we take credit for? The things we’re tempted to take pride in? The rest of the ingredients, on the list, don’t lie!

-It All Comes From Him!

According to the Apostle Paul, the “ingredient list” on the side panel of our lives says, “For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?” 1 Cor. 4:7. Everything we have comes from Him! And, we face deadly consequences when we deny God the Glory! It is not an insignificant matter when we dismiss or deny God the Glory due His Name! Human pride is deadly! I’ve said before that human pride is our attempt to steal God’s glory & that is why God’s Word says, in Proverbs, “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him...”; and, what’s #1 on the LIST? “A PROUD LOOK” Prov. 6:16-19. All glory was God’s Glory from the beginning of Creation! All glory, in the world, is ultimately a reflection of the Glory God gave it!