Journal Entry // November 23, 2021
whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11 ESV
Why do we do what we do? This is the question at the heart of my each and every action. My motivation is a key element to understanding myself. Not just understanding myself the way the world uses that phrase today though. Today the world is immersed in self-help & self-care, which is purely selfish at it’s foundation and against what Peter is talking about here. Understanding myself is meant to delve into my motivations to reveal where I am living, trusting, and believing in myself instead of God alone. The measurement against my motivation is simple: is God glorified through Jesus Christ.
In everything… Peter doesn’t give any room for negotiation or debate on this. Everything I say, everything I do, everything I think, everything I love – they all should bring glory to God through Christ. One of the phrases that I heard a long time ago that has stuck with me is this, bringing glory to God in everything includes buying toothpaste. Whenever I use this phrase with others most people laugh it off, until they see that I am serious. How can “do everything” not included buying toothpaste? Is toothpaste somehow outside the realm of God’s glory? No. There is no sacred and secular divide in God’s glory. There is only God’s glory in this world. And Peter is challenging me to give every ounce of myself to God’s glory alone. Even buying toothpaste.
Through Jesus Christ… I found this addition to Peter’s statement a bit odd. Not that it’s wrong, but by it’s inclusion. My first thought was that it is enough to simply do all things for God’s glory. So why add this phrase? It’s the point of the whole passage. How easily do I twist these points and make them about me instead of Christ? Surely when I speak with God’s gift, “I” will give him glory. Surely when I serve with God’s gift, “I” will bring him glory. Surely God can be glorified through “me.” It’s a simple and easy matter for me to take even the glory of God in my life and make it about me.
So Peter reminds me that everything is about the glory of God through Jesus Christ. I get to participate in this wondrous event. I am able to bring glory to God through Jesus. This is an amazing fact and motivation. All of my life can and should be focused of glorifying God through Jesus. This relieves me of anxiety and worry. This is my motivation. This is my joy and happiness. Simply looking to Christ for each and every moment. Whether mundane or exciting, sacred or secular, it doesn’t matter. Everything in my life is about the glory of God through Jesus Christ. There is nothing else.