Read Psalm 115:1-8 1Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 2Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. 4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
Psalm 115:1 is one of the most quoted, sung, and meditated upon verses in all of history. It has been quoted after battles and after the abolishment of slavery. It should and must be the motto of every Christian – not to us, but to your name give glory.
And yet we have become pretty adept at stealing God’s glory haven’t we? We might chuckle at the description of lifeless idols in verses 4-7 but if we are honest we know that we too have crafted glory with our own hands. Our sources of joy, peace, hope, and love are often not even real. They are just something we’ve manufacture in our hearts or minds or online in order to give us a sense of control over this world around us, and a justification for our continued existence.
The warning is stark – those who trust in them become like them. We always become like whatever we worship. Worship the self-promotion of accomplishment and you will become proud. Worship the greed of Wall Street and you will become greedy. Worship the lust of Hollywood and you will become lustful. Comfort, lazy. Work, joyless. Distractions, numb.
Fortunately, this principle works for the good as well. As we worship Christ, as we give him all the glory he demands and deserves, we become like him.
2 Corinthians 3:18. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
To live is Christ is to constantly cry not to us, O Lord, but to your name give glory. And in beholding that glory, the glory the one who was pleased to die for us, we find that transformation into the likeness of Christ is never far behind.
Prayer. Jesus, to you alone belongs all glory, praise, and honor. Make my life the idol, the image of your glory as I forsake the idols that would bring me down. Amen.
To Live is Christ 