The Glory is What Moves Us

It is truly the glory of the gospel that drives us to reach out. It is the glory of Christ! It’s not primarily the rise of our sanctification, the joy of obedience, the edification of the body, or even the salvation of sinners. In the end, the reason we love to honor God is the joy of honoring God. There was an old Keith Green song called Oh, Lord, You’re Beautiful. The chorus went, “I want to take Your word and shine it all around, but first help me just to live it Lord. And when I’m doing well help me to never seek a crown, for my reward is giving glory to You.” Amen to that!

I think that serving Christ in Spirit and in truth, by the power that God alone can give, is not at all self-serving even though it brings the Christian the greatest joy imaginable, and he or she can know and love this.

This is why I think Scripture can speak somewhat paradoxically of rewarding people who “…by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality… and yet condemn those who are self-seeking saying, “…but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,” Romans 2:7-8.

Both types of people are seeking for something. It matters whether you’re seeking in God’s grace or in selfish ambition. I also strongly suspect it has a great deal to do with what motivates us as well. Are you seeking Christ for His glory of for your own? One will end in great honor (oddly enough) even for the seeker; the other will end in misery and destruction.