It started by recalling how I love coming home and sharing the sort of day I’ve had with my wife, whilst also finding out the kind of day she’s had. Experts have referred to this as a conversation. I like these ‘conversations’.
I was thinking, though, is God glorified by our reports on the day? Could I talk about the day I had and be able to highlight how I magnified God or how He was glorified through the day? It doesn’t have to be an overt and over the top recollection, it is just a more conscious consideration as to God’s input in the day.
Whilst thinking on the issue it became clear that there have been days where if the measure was the conscious awareness of God being glorified I would not be saying much. I appreciated that in as much as I might recall tensions and ongoing challenges I would be hard pressed to state how great God was in my day. Thankfully, more recently I have been aware of a pull towards adopting that more conscious awareness of God in the day.
The cornerstone for that was being challenged by Jesus in John 15 saying without Him I can do nothing. Thus I was all the more careful in the preparation and delivery of modules to state clearly that I would not be able to succeed and do justice to the people I was serving, and I would not be fruitful without Him. This was applied whether the settings were favourable or severely challenging. I didn’t want to fall either into complacency over something that appeared familiar and neither did I want to capitulate over difficult scenarios and people. The sense of peace I received when I surrendered to Him on the matter has been the fundamental key in making progress over some difficult weeks as of late.
So while I was dwelling on giving glory to God my mind recalled an episode in Israel’s history where someone was called to give glory to God. The episode is covered in total in Joshua 6-8. It specifically covers the sin of Achan. No sooner had Israel enjoyed their biggest military victory to date, then thee key to success was spoilt by the greed of Achan. Seen in chapter 7, the consequences of Achan’s was not just the loss of life, but a humiliating defeat for the people scheduled to be taking the Promised Land. Joshua’s response and subsequent obedience to the weeding process says a lot for his commitment to glorify God in leading the army.
So it is in the weeding out process that the tribe, clan, family, household and individual is identified as the bad apple that is rotting the whole. The response to this appears merciless and brutal, but taken in another way it is the essential that needs to be taken to truly give glory to God. It reminds me of the measures Jesus impresses in the Sermon on the Mount that if it’s the eye or the leg or arm that is stopping you in entering the Kingdom, then you have to get rid of it. The desire to see God glorified brings with it a purifying tendency so that there is no room for compromise in achieving that goal. This is not a works based issue this is a purity of heart applicable to all situations. This is honouring God as much in my leisure time as in my work time – as much behind closed doors as in public.
I wonder if we were picked out and called to testify to God’s glory of our day or week’s activities whether we would be found wanting. Would we have to confess to acts of covetousness and greed, or bitterness and malice? This is why those who recognise they are the beloved of God do what it takes to be pure – to get rid of that which threatens the integrity of our offering. They purify themselves even as He is pure.
Such a conscious awareness need not negatively preoccupy us for hours and days. It is sufficient to acknowledge that ongoing need for the life of Christ to be expressed through us so that indeed He will cover and blot out the things that are not pleasing to Him. It is sufficient for Him to thus focus our minds on what is pleasing in His sight and find contentment, fulfilment and joy in that pursuit above all else. Thus ending with life lived all for His glory
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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