Glory To God

When God works through us, especially in answer to prayer, we need to remember to give him the credit and the glory whenever we share our praise report. Daniel knew that, and we should as well. In Daniel chapter 2 verse 27 and the first part of 28 it says:

"Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come."

Daniel could’ve just simply revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar the mystery of his dream. If he did, he wouldn’t have technically taken the credit. But instead, he chose to glorify God by crediting him, while at the same time worshipping him by lifting him up as the only source for divine revelation of this magnitude. Likewise, whenever we find ourselves in a place where we can highlight God’s greatness, we should take it. It doesn’t only accurately share our story, but it lifts up the God who made it happen. The bible tells us that God will share his glory with no one. So, the way we share what he has done for us matters. We let him know that we know the glory is his and his alone.

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God is not one to share his glory with anyone, and Daniel knew that when he told the king of how God revealed the mystery of his dream. We need to remember that as well. I challenge you to take note of this story because it isn’t a small thing. By acknowledging God’s hand in our delivery, success, or answered prayer, we not only do the right thing, but we’re also responding in a very biblical way. Our lives should point to God. And this is simply one of the ways we can shine his light to the world. So, in everything give glory to where glory is due. God likes it when we do, and there can also be negative consequences if we don’t.

Make Known

Despite all that Satan does to try and silence the gospel and prevent others from coming to Christ, God continues to use believers like you and me to share the gospel to others. And he does this by using the Holy Spirit to flow through us as we are obedient to him. Right before Jesus was arrested, he prayed for his disciples, then he prayed for all believers with these words in John 17 verses 25 and 26 which says:

"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Jesus says that he will continue to make the Father known to the world, and he does that through us. God loved the world before he sent Jesus and he continues to love the world now that Jesus has returned to the right hand of the Father. One way that he shows his love to the world is through us. So, I encourage you not to keep the love of God to yourself, but to spread that love. One way to do that is to continue to do what Jesus began – making the Father known to the world in order that the love God had for his son may be in them and that Jesus may be in them as he is in us.

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It was Jesus’ mission to make God known to the world. In John, before he was arrested, he prayed that he would continue to make God known to the world, and one way he does that is through believers like you and me. If you are a believer and have given your life to Jesus then I encourage you to be about the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is not about numbers, or checking a box off of a list, it is about love and obedience. And if you do not know Jesus and have not chosen to follow him, I encourage you to get to know the one who created you and loved you enough to send his son to die for you. It is absolutely the most important thing we can do in life.

Pervert The Gospel

Through the course of our lives we will experience many changes. We may change careers, homes, boyfriends or girlfriends – we may even have a midlife crisis and realize half way through life that we need a major change because either we believe we’ve squandered our life, or we don’t like the way it’s headed. But there is one thing we should never change… ever. And that is our belief in the gospel Jesus taught and proclaimed. In Galatians 1, verses 6 through 8 we find these words:

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!"

Unfortunately, there may be some who desert the gospel as soon as they feel it “isn’t working for them”, or they feel a bit of persecution for their belief. Or maybe like in Galatians some are turning to a different gospel or a twisted version of the truth made to conform to the standard of the world instead of the standards of our holy God. But we shouldn’t treat our belief in the bible like we do other things in our life that we may change for this reason or that. And we shouldn’t let ourselves become confused when we hear people pervert the gospel to fit their own belief system. From cradle to grave, in as much as possible, we need to always follow the teachings of Jesus.

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We should never desert the gospel of Jesus Christ or let ourselves become confused by those who pervert the gospel. Instead, we should become scholars of the bible and test what we hear from even the most trusted of sources. And we should never try to bend the words of the bible to confirm to the world. As it says in Galatians, “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” So, I encourage you to take the words of the bible the way they were intended to be received, as holy infallible scriptures, from the mind of our God and creator.

Wake Up

You know, it is easy to fall into a pattern in life. For me, my week days look very similar to each other with the occasional minor switch up every now and then. But if we’re not careful, life – I mean real life, can pass us by. The real life that I’m talking about is our Godly purpose on this earth and our relationship with God the Father. You see, some of us may need a “wake up” call to understand the time in which we are living - not getting lulled to sleep by our earthly patterns and the fleshly desires of this world. Paul says in Romans 13:11-14: 

"And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."

Paul says that we need to wake up from our slumber – that the night is nearly over and the day is almost here. I encourage you to take stock of how you are living, not to just continue mindless patterns that bears no fruit, or sinful patterns that ultimately lead us astray. Paul reminds us that we are running a race, so we can’t lose focus. If we do, we might find more of the world seeping into our lives as we become more and more oblivious to the real reason for living.

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Paul says, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” When life ends, eternity begins. And this short time that we have here on earth sets the course for where we will ultimately spend eternity. With that in mind, I encourage you to take heed of Paul’s words by taking stock of how you are living life. “Wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

Boast In God

Don’t you just love how God works? He is God and will not share his glory with anyone. So, just to make sure that we know it is him doing all of the “heavy lifting”, the bible teaches us that he uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He uses those of us who don’t have the ability to succeed on our own to succeed, so that everyone knows that it was God alone who made it happen. In first Corinthians chapter 1 verses 27 – 31 the bible says:

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'"

Make no mistake, God is in control and when he takes control, no one can share his glory. So if you think you aren’t smart enough, strong enough, or charismatic enough to be used by God, remember that this is where God likes to operate. It is only when we think we are “God’s gift” that he shows us that we’re not. Remember the story of David? God used a shepherd boy above all of his older and stronger brothers to bring down Goliath. And David knew, just like we should know, that it was God’s strength, not his, that slew the giant. So, if you dare to boast, make sure you boast in the Lord. Anything else is like trying to share the glory with God.

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“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong”. There is story after story in the Bible where God choses what we might consider the least likely candidate to accomplish his will. And in every case, there is no mistaking God’s power in the mission. That is by design, so that those of us who think we are strong in our own strength or wise in our own wisdom will be shamed. I remember God using someone who I thought was totally unqualified, who touched someone with their hand and the power of God literally flowed from it and healed the person. He wasn’t a pastor, an elder or a pillar in our church. He was just a damaged, emotionally challenged boy. And yes, I was shamed and God received all of the glory.