Glory Thieves

Sin makes us glory thieves. There is probably not a day when we do not plot to steal glory that rightfully belongs to the Lord. Sin causes us to steal the story and rewrite it with ourselves as the lead, and with our lives at center stage. But the story of Scripture is the story of the Lord's glory. It calls me to an agenda that is bigger than myself. It offers me something truly worth living for. The Redeemer has come so that glory thieves would joyfully live for the glory of Another. There is no deeper personal joy and satisfaction than to live committed to His glory. It is what we truly need.

---Paul David Tripp

I don't know about you, but I struggle every day not to be a glory thief. Can I get a witness that it is so easy to slip into the mindset that life (even the Christian life) is about ME? The world trains us to spend all of our time and mental energy seeking my glory, my happiness, my success, and my personal fulfillment. I have been convicted, of late, that I spend far too much time seeking these things and far too little time working for and seeking the glory of King Jesus. The beautiful reality, though, is that true personal fulfillment and joy come only in living and working for the glory of the Lord. Yes, pleasant circumstances, thriving human relationships, worldly success, riches, honor and praise all may bring "happiness " for a season, but none of these things will ultimately fulfill because life isn't about me. This thing that I call "my life" is not really about my individual story. It's about a bigger story--God's story--the story of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. We will only find true joy and fulfillment when we realize that our lives are part of God's grand story, and when we begin to seek the glory and renown of Christ, rather than our own. I need daily reminders of this truth. Praise the Lord for his patient forbearance with me....