12/4/2023 1 Comment For His Name's Sake
I was generally a rule follower. I wanted all the awards: for grades, for attendance, for being “good.” I didn’t necessarily want to be in the spotlight, but achieving was high on my list of priorities, and I loved getting the credit for everything I did. The “right paths” I was walking or the good that He was enabling me to do were not accomplishing what they should have. It was all about me. When I became a stay-at-home mom, I quickly realized that there wasn’t much glory to be had. My success no longer felt measurable. Most of what I did each day was unseen. At some point, I eventually came to the conclusion, especially having more understanding of the Scriptures by then, that the Lord must be being glorified by all the work I was doing as a mom because I was definitely not getting the glory. THAT is how it should be! I remember the first time God highlighted the rest of the section my son was reading to me. Jesus continues, “Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matt. 6:4).” I have been walking with Jesus for twenty-one years now, and I still sometimes feel like my son, asking the Lord simple questions such as, “What does this mean?” Our world calls us to put our lives on display. If we do something noteworthy, we can get the glory with a simple post on social media. The likes roll in, and the glory is ours. But we aren’t to do the right things for our glory. Walking with God is interesting and counter- cultural. We trade the glory of man in the now for the reward He has for us later. Yet, our walking in the right paths should bring Him glory. Our Shepherd guides us along the right paths for His glory, not ours. When our light shines before others, they will see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt 5:16). This may seem contradictory, but it isn’t. It is all about a quiet walk along the paths He leads, which naturally draws attention to the Father. We trade our glory for His, with a hope of the reward to come. I don’t know about you, but I am sure that must be worth the wait. “He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3b (NIV)
1 Comment
Michelle
1/11/2024 08:08:29 am
Thank you for sharing this Saretta! It is an important reminder that we all need to strive to give God all the glory. He only deserves! Bless your heart and your family.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Devotionals by AuthorAll Abby McDonald Alexa Gearhart Angi Morrison Anna Bearden Anne Say Audra Powers Breanna Faith Spearman Brenna Kurz Brittany Marlow Caroline Hultgren Courtney Filippin Dana Schaefer Danielle Biddy Debbie Burns Heather Kenny Jannetta Cox Jessica Parker Jess Ridgeway Joan Lavori Katelyn Wilson Katie Gibson Kelly Orlowski Kerri Barfield Keryn Stokes Kristen Williamson Laura Pendley Lindsay McNeely Lonette Baity Martha Rudolph Nancy Ehlinger Renee Robinson Saretta Wells Tara McGill Taylor Watkins Tierney Nashleanas Wendy Gerdes |