Journal Ps 115-116 (all references are from the ESV unless noted otherwise; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Ps 115:1
Observation: Who gets the glory? Sunday School answer: God.
However, what do I really practice?
Analysis: When I read through both Psalms (a few times), my mind always bounced back to this single verse. So, I wonder…
A week ago (8/27/2022) I referenced “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord—for He comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.” (Ps 97:8-9)
How do I daily acknowledge the glory of the Most High? Do I press in to “give His name glory” in all I do? If I wanted to, how would I do it?
Clues that Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica were,
- “Be at peace among yourselves.
- And we urge you…admonish the idle,
- Encourage the fainthearted
- Help the weak
- Be patient with them all.
- (Do not) repay evil for evil, but
- Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
- Rejoice always,
- Pray without ceasing (this is possible, otherwise the Holy Spirit wouldn’t have encouraged the pursuit), and,
- Give thanks in all (every) circumstances; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:13b-18
I can always find or make up a list of things to do out of the Scriptures. That isn’t bad because the “lists” inevitably relate to each other in one particular way: Glorifying God for the redemption and transformation of my life. Hooray for the Cross; Hooray for the Gospel!!
Not to me, but to Your Name alone, belongs all the glory, my Lord.
Prayer: Father, I don’t remember to take enough time to glorify you in prayer, in praise, in worship, in driving, in cooking, in vacuuming, cutting the grass, trimming hedges…everything I do.
Make me an instrument of your grace, please.
Amen.
Ricky Two Shoes