May 8

Written by Bill Grandi on May 8th, 2019

My title for this devotion is For me vs For Him.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (ESV)

That verse is on my mind this morning. Several reasons:

  1. As I evaluate my life, recalibrate as my friend Ryan says, one of the most searing questions I am having to ask is “Who am I living for?”
  2. Psalm 46:10 (which I read this morning) says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (emphasis mine) God Himself says He is to be and will be exalted above all. Is what I’m doing helping that to happen?
  3. Psalm 47:1-2 (which I also read this morning) says, “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.”

There are some questions that demand an answer. Who am I living for? For me or for Him? As I live, who get the applause? the credit? the accolades? the attention? Who gets the glory?

Admittedly, there have been and still are times I give lip service to the whole “give God the glory” thing. Quite literally I stink up the place with my self-glorification. Referring back to Col.3:17 there are times I do not do things in His name, nor can I give thanks where thanks is due. Least not honestly.How about you?

“Father, when I do something let it be for you not for me. Sincerely. Not just lip service. Let me do it with all my heart, giving you the honor and glory, and seeking none for myself.”

 

 

7 Comments so far ↓

  1. Pam says:

    Challenging thoughts today, Bill. Sometimes I don’t even recognize that what I am doing or saying is an effort to make myself look good, rather than seeking to honor God. I pray that God would open my eyes to my motives.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Understand what you are saying Pam. I am way to oblivious to how I am coming across in the area of who gets the glory. I second your prayer.

  2. Your words and reflection here today, Bill, definitely give me pause. I think we have to consciously, every day, commit ourselves to giving God the glory in all we do; otherwise, we risk slipping back into the kingdom of “me.”
    Blessings!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Thanks for kind words martha. This was not an easy devotion to write and think about at the same time.

  3. Ryan S. says:

    Thanks for the shout out… It has definitely been a re-calibrating week and will continue to be so.

    “Who am I living for?”
    The right question to be asking…

    A question I am not ready to answer, not yet… because I don’t like me answer.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      You’re more than welcome. Like you a question I’m not ready to answer yet. I know what i want to say but…

  4. floyd says:

    Well said, Bill. I spiritually stink the place up too. Those are good questions to ask, because to answer them honestly means that we all fall short of the glory of He who washes us in His grace.