Glorify Thy Name

What comes to mind when you hear the word glory?

It's amazing to me that after 52 years of hearing scripture repeated, there are still (and will always be) the moments of Ah-ha!

When I heard glory, I thought of magnitude and fame—an Olympic athlete, a rock star, an actor, etc. Of course, I pray that God be glorified, but... this morning, as the Hubstud and I read John 17, my perspective shifted. Everything Jesus did was to bring glory to the Father.

Glory:

1. very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown

2. something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration

I had to stop and pray. Repent, really. Because if everything I did was for the glory of the Father... I wouldn't lose it on a Walmart employee giving me attitude. I wouldn't cuss. I wouldn't... okay, so those are my current two... but you get the picture.

Of course, I want to glorify God! I spend my dreaming goals thinking of all I could do for the kingdom if only.... blank. But I don't walk into every room thinking, "Okay... how am I going to bring glory to God?" But maybe I should.

Some of you who love the Lord but aren't hard-core, sold-out believers may think, 'Lighten up, Leah. You're a good person. We know you glorify God.' But, like me, you haven't felt the weighty significance of what is happening in John 17.

I've never prayed that God would give me glory. "Glorify me, Father, that I may glorify You," Jesus prayed. Asking for glory goes against every teaching on humility that I've ever internalized. But... have you ever heard these major celebrities say they asked God to make them famous? Madonna did it. So did Matthew Perry. Many Christians asked God for success: Steve Harvey, Matthew McConaughey, Tyler Perry, J.R.R. Tolkien, Tom Hanks, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mark Wahlberg, Winston Churchill, Roma Downey... I do ask God to bless the work of my hands, but I've not asked Him to glorify me, that I may glorify Him.

Guess what... that changes today.

It's almost as though the catapult shouldn't happen until this concept is grasped. Of course, we can give God glory in our successes...but to be genuinely glorified is nothing unless it points to Him. What is the purpose of glory if not to magnify Him? What did so many of the aforementioned celebrities do with their success? Ouch. Did they forget? Or come to it later? No matter how much money or success we may attain... it can't buy happiness. We know this. So... what is the point unless to utterly glorify God? To point the way to the only One who can truly heal any wound, rectify destroyed situations, and bring peace that surpasses all understanding.

The Son glorified the Father through His obedience on the cross, and in turn, the Father glorified the Son. A formula I never thought applied to me. But it does. And it applies to you, too.