Our Lack of Glorification

Scripture: Glorify your name, not ours, O Lord! Cause everyone to praise your loving-kindness and your truth. Why let the nations say, "Their God is dead!" Psalm 115:1-2

Observation: The psalmist opens up this plea to the Lord - a plea that is from those who are faithful to the Lord and thus detest those who are opposed to the Lord - by asking God to glorify himself, not them. They don't want for their own success as evidence of God's greatness, but rather they want God's greatness to come forth as evidence of itself. If only God would produce overwhelming evidence of his love, then no one could possibly declare "God is dead" or any other version challenging God's existence. In such a way, God could "cause" others to worship him.

Application: This is a common prayer by many Christians, I believe ... if only God would simply provide unequivocal evidence of his existence then all convincing would be done. Of course, this will someday occur - at the end time when Jesus returns - and the point is that doing so removes the concept of faith and thus concludes the time of freewill faith.

Knowing this then, the most interesting part of this plea then are the two words "not ours". The plea is not just for God to glorify himself, but also to not glorify the faithful. This is important context for me and the church as well. We shouldn't want the church "glorified" or exalted. We shouldn't want to be honored, or proven true, or lifted up in high regard. We should simply want Jesus glorified. Period.

When Jesus is glorified, everything else about faith ... proper worship of the Lord, understanding of God's love, belief in Messiah, salvation for all, and love among the saints ... would fall into place. The ends we strive for would be achieved with just this outcome, which is glorification of Jesus.

Again, this won't openly happen, and we understand why. Even still, it is important this be our only goal, and that we - including me - set aside any aspiration for being found "right" in our faith. We are certainly tired of the world around declaring "God is dead", but we should never want anyone to replace that by thinking how great the church is. If we serve well, behave well, love well, care well ... may the end result always only be glorification of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, as our church heads into a season that will create strife, may we find a way to glorify you, and only you, in our work and service. Let all we do only shine a light toward Jesus Christ. Amen.