This blog is not about the World Race.
For a while now I’ve started to feel like I have to write another blog because I haven’t since July and I feel like a slacker for that. So I’ve been on the lookout for a subject matter or experience to share just for the sake of keeping up with our blog page. But yesterday I realized I didn’t want to write something just to check it off of my ‘to-do’ list. So I asked God what HE wanted me to write about. And what He put on my heart was this…
Just glorify Him. In my conversations with others, in my service to other people, in my daily routine of life…just glorify Him. During a devotional with some friends this week, we talked about God’s glory and how BIG He is and how small we as humans are. It was an important reminder to humble myself each day and to stop thinking that I control my own life. Every intricate detail of this beautiful world and all of the billions and billions of galaxies were created by Him for HIS glory. He is the master; we are to be the vessels for His purpose to shine HIS love and glory through. Who am I to question God’s authority or boast of my accomplishments? God is the one who gave me the abilities and insight to accomplish His work so He is the one we need to be glorifying, not ourselves.
‘But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?’ Romans 9:20-21
Francis Chan puts it into great perspective for me when he says, “To be brutally honest, it doesn’t really matter what place you find yourself in right now. Your part is to bring Him glory…The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is His. It is His movie, His world, His gift.” (Crazy Love, page 46-47).
Most people know that New England is the place to be for vibrant fall foliage- God went pretty heavy with the paintbrush here! I’ve lived in New England most of my life and the changing of leaves each year has never gotten old to me but I have definitely taken that beauty for granted at times. But now as I am surrounded by brilliant colors of fiery red, orange, and gold, I stand in awe of God’s creation and am overwhelmed by the glory that is His. God’s artistry is incredible and I am blessed to live here and enjoy it every single day! I get to experience HIS beauty that HE specifically created and I need to stop and just glorify Him. I see that splendor and think, “I do not deserve to be given this gift. But God deserves for us to take this enjoyment and turn it into praising and glorifying Him for it.” Even if He never created colors or oceans or delicious flavors or sunsets or music or thousands of species of flowers, He would still deserve all of the glory because Philippians 4:4 tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always!” not just when things are going our way, or when we recognize the natural beauties of the world or when we get a financial raise at work. It says to rejoice in Him always.
I absolutely love to serve others. Some people might think that’s crazy but I believe it is my spiritual gift and something I really enjoy. Sometimes I need to be reminded that even though I am the one serving someone else, God is still the one who deserves to be glorified, not me. After all, He created our hearts to love others and He’s the one who gave me my spiritual gift, not myself. Accomplishing a mission that we were called to do by God is important work and is a huge way we can bring Him glory. We as Christians are to always be responding in action to God’s commands! It is a vital part of why we were created- God’s work is never finished. But I am constantly reminding myself that as important as doing God’s work is, I need to be careful not to replace doing His work with actually being with Him, in His presence, learning about who He is, growing closer to Him, and glorifying Him always. He wants our obedience but He also desires our hearts.
Months ago, we made a commitment to do the World Race to be obedient to God’s calling on our hearts. Now I believe that the number one reason for going is to simply bring Him glory.
Again, this blog is not about the World Race. It’s what the World Race is about; what our short, humble lives should always be about. It’s what He created us for and what the reflection of our walk of faith should be.
-Kelsey
‘So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.’ Corinthians 10:31
