Not to Us, Lord, But to Your Name Be the Glory!
Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1
Psalm 115 opens with a striking bit of poetry: “Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness” (115:1). Though God may richly bless his people, so that they appear to be glorious (115:12-15), the glory belongs truly to God and God alone.
Sometimes, if I’m going to be honest, there are times when I am eager for a bit of glory, times when I want to be recognized for my good work, times when I want someone to say to me, “Good job, Mark!” I don’t think this is altogether wrong. The problem is that I can easily fall into the trap of seeking my glory above all else. When this happens, my motivations are out of alignment, the longings of my heart are out of place.
So, what helps to correct my course? What helps me to yearn for God’s glory most of all?
Part of what enables me to want God’s glory above all is persistent surrender of my own desires, insecurities, and ego. I can’t tell you how many times in life I have prayed, “O Lord, I don’t want this to be about me. Let it be about you. May all I do be for your purposes and glory.” As I pray this prayer, again and again, in time, the Holy Spirit reshapes my heart and refines my desires. I find myself truly wanting God’s glory above all.
Yet, even beyond surrender, what instills a longing for God’s glory in me is my experience of God’s amazing grace and blessing. Remember the ending of Psalm 115:1, “Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Because of your love and faithfulness! God deserves the glory because he has showered his love and faithfulness on us. God has caused us to flourish (115:14). God has blessed us beyond measure (115:15). The more I reflect on God’s goodness to me, the more I want God to receive the credit he alone deserves.
Something to Think About:
When have you felt a passion for God’s glory?
How would seeking God’s glory make a difference in your daily life? In your work? In your family?
Something to Do:
At some point during the day today, do something intentionally for God’s glory. It doesn’t have to be something unusual or even obviously “spiritual.” You don’t have to draw attention to your motivation. Rather, simply offer to God some action that you might ordinarily have done for some other reason.
Prayer:
Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
May you be glorified, Lord, in my work.
May you be glorified in my family.
May you be glorified in my earning and my spending.
May you be glorified in all of my relationships.
May you be glorified in my public life and my private life.
May you be glorified in my church.
May you be glorified in every bit of my life.
Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness. Amen.
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Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...