Encouragement

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"For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?
I will not yield my glory to another." Isaiah 48:11

God is very protective of His name and of His glory. Witness His jealousy when those who claim to follow Him turn to others gods. He requires the glory, that His name be praised in all the earth. When some in the crowd in Jerusalem asked Jesus to quiet those who were calling out His praise, Jesus said that if they are quiet, then the rocks will cry out.

I understood all this very well before becoming a Christian. It disturbed me, actually. How could such normal-seeming people abjectly praise another like that? How could someone be so arrogant as to demand that praise from his followers? It seemed insane, the work of the ultimate egomaniac. My heart rebelled against such worship, for I desired to have no master but myself.

But is God an egomaniac? Heavens, no! One quick glimpse of Jesus washing His disciples feet hours before their betrayal and desertion, or the portrait of God painted in the book of Hosea will shatter such foolish thoughts. How, then, to explain His statement: 'for my own sake, for my own sake, I do this'?

Perhaps, you see, there is no easy explanation. The terms we use to describe our own thoughts, predispositions, and so on may not apply to describing God. He seeks His own glory and that's to be praised, whereas if we seek our glory we're egomaniacs. God seeks glory for Himself, yet is humble enough to forsake that glory to be born as a mewling infant. His thoughts, you see, are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways. He is perfect we are not. Can we every truly understand the Father's mind or explain His thoughts? Likely not.

We are the clay, and He is the potter. The clay is formed to give glory to the potter by revealing the beauty, majesty and wonder of the potter. In that, we have great comfort. Think, will you, of how most of us live our lives. We live as if in a cocoon, beautiful butterflies wrapped so tightly in our fears and worries that we can't break out to reveal the wondrous beauty that dwells inside and comes from God alone.

If, though, we realize how jealously God guards His glory will not those fears and worries break down. As Christians, we are God's ambassadors on earth. Much of His good name rests in our hands. He has invested much in us, and through us His glory shall be revealed. How, then, can we keep quiet with our actions and with our tongues? Shall He abandon us and let our words and deeds done for His glory and in His name fall flat that others might laugh and ridicule Him? Does He not protect His own name and care for the ones He loves? Have we all such little faith?

People are watching us, aware of our own actions, and ready to pounce when we fail. Yes, but that should not be cause for fear and worry, but freedom from it. If we stand strong, bold, and forthright about and in our faith, will He not stand with us and vindicate us, if only to preserve the glory and majesty of His own name? Is that glorification not what we should live for and earnestly seek? Brethren, please, do we have so little faith? Have we become so attached to the ground we stand on that we shall not leap off it knowing that God will catch us before we can fall?

Be strong, take courage, and be bold my brothers and sisters, for God is with us.

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