Don’t Steal the Spotlight

Philippians 4:10-23

Verse 20  To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

    Paul is coming closer to wrapping up his letter to his friends in Philippi.  After sharing his heart with them and trying to encourage them to strive to be all that God desires them to be, Paul reminds them why these things are important.

    We tend to do things for our own glory.  We hope someone notices the effort we put into it and that they let us know how well they think we have done.  We long to have the appreciation that we feel we are due.  This speaks volumes about us as it brings our attention back to ourselves, and we don’t need help thinking about ourselves.

    The way our key verse is worded may sound like it is placing God and the Father as separate people, but in the original Greek there is a word that adds the needed clarification.  When Paul originally wrote this letter he wrote it in a way that they understood he was talking about God, the Holy Father of us as Christians.  The addition of “of us” tells us that this isn’t about us just bringing glory to God in a non-personal way.  When he said, “the Father of us” he is pointing out the relationship.

    While religions claim a god that is made of stone or wood, meaning that there can be no true communication, those of us who claim Christ are blessed with the benefit of being in a relationship with God.  Benefits that include being able to communicate with Him anywhere, any time.  When this relationship is what it should be, our life will be different than the rest of the world and it will bring Him glory.

    Bringing Him glory isn’t something that should come and go in our lives.  In fact, bringing Him glory will continue for eternity.  While one of the side-effects of bringing Him glory is about revealing Him to those around us, the truth is that it is about God.  He deserves all the glory both here and in eternity, both from us and through us.  We must remember that we are to live for His glory not our own.  We need to stop stealing His spotlight.

Making It Personal

    Do you do things to be recognized?  What things should you be doing to bring God glory?  What is one way you can bring Him glory today?

Making It Personal Kids

    Do you do things so that others will notice you?  How is that like stealing from Jesus?  How can you give Jesus glory for something today?

Closing Prayer

    Father, we repent of the times where we have stolen Your spotlight.  Give us the wisdom to know how to bring You glory in every situation.  In Jesus’ name, amen.