AUG 22

John 12:28
Memorise John 12:28
“Father, glorify thy name”

In preparation to do His Father’s will, Jesus prayed in John 12:28 “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The Son submitted Himself totally to the Father’s Will, for His sole purpose was to live for God’s glory. Jesus did this both by His active and passive obedience, in living a sinless life on earth and then dying on the Cross for us. Thus God the Father proclaimed that Christ had glorified God in His life, and now was going to glorify God in His death. No greater example do we have of one who has so completely lived for God’s glory. And not just in action, but also in word, for so often in the gospel of John, Jesus continually gave glory to His Father and not Himself, even though He Himself was the Son of God e.g. John 8:50 “And I seek not mine own glory...”. In this we see the humility of Jesus, for all that He did, He did it not to glorify self, but only God the Father. If Jesus the Son of God was able to do so, what more ourselves?

Many of us acknowledge and believe that we must glorify God in whatsoever we do, but I for one confess that I fall short of living for God’s glory; and if God calls me home now, I wonder if anyone will be able to honestly say at my funeral that I really lived for God’s glory. Yes, there may have been instances in my life where God was glorified, sometimes by my actions, or sometimes despite my actions, but I dare not say that I live completely and only for God’s glory. There were times for example where I spent too much time in recreation and for my own pleasure. There are times that I have not given the glory to God for what He has blessed me with.

To truly live for God’s glory means that in all that I do, I never seek my own desire, my own will, or my own glory. I must empty myself of all my vain ambitions, and desire for the praise and recognition of man. All that I do must be for God and God alone. This is indeed a tall order, but we look to Jesus as our perfect example. I pray that God will forgive me for falling short, in all the times I failed to live for His glory, and I pray that you too will likewise examine yourself against the perfect standard of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thought: Can I truly say I live for God’s glory?
Prayer: That I may be reminded daily to live for His glory.