Let’s face it, most of us are glory hogs–we love the lime light almost as much as we enjoy saying we don’t.
There’s nothing quite as self serving as false humility.
In the old civil war movie, “Glory,” there is a regiment of black soildiers who are treated poorly because of prejudice and stupid beliefs some had back then. You don’t need a history lesson on that. Everyone knows it wasn’t America’s finest hour. However, what a lot of people do not realize is that even though this group of soldiers served bravely, they didn’t really receive the glory for decades. I guess some people were still trying to figure out how to take the glory for themselves. Silly really–especially when you put things in a heavenly perspective:
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.The skies display his craftsmanship. Psalm 19:1
Can you match that?
No. But that won’t keep most of us from spending a lifetime trying! So I figure I may only have one shot at convincing one or two of you that’s a poor way to use the life God gave you–robbing Him of His glory.
Perhaps this will help you see you’re not as qualified as you think you are:
1Now(A) before(B) the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that(C) his hour had come(D) to depart out of this world to the Father,(E) having loved(F) his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2During supper, when(G) the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3Jesus, knowing(H) that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that(I) he had come from God and(J) was going back to God, 4rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel,(K) tied it around his waist. 5Then he(L)6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7(M) Jesus answered him, “What I am doing(N) you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8(O) Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, (P) “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash,(Q) except for his feet,[a] but is completely clean. And(R) you[b] are clean,(S) but not every one of you.” 11(T) For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12When he had washed their feet and(U) put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, (V) “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13(W) You call me(X) Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,(Y) you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example,(Z) that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16Truly, truly, I say to you,(AA) a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things,(AB) blessed are you if you do them. poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:1-17
Jesus (being God) was uniquly qualified to receive all glory and honor yet,
HE PASSED!
Don’t miss the lesson and don’t be a glory hog!