CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 915

“Lesser Glory”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (Matthew 4:8)

Would you take a nickel in exchange for a dime? It is bigger and heavier. Surely, this is too good a deal to pass up. Or is it?

Not many of us could be so easily duped into a one for one exchange of our dimes for nickels, yet we so easily settle for the lesser glory of the things of this world in lieu of the greater glory of God.

We settle for lesser glory when we seek first the material of this world. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

We accept lesser glory when the true motive for our actions is to receive the praise of men. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. (Matthew 6:2, NKJV)

We exchange the greater value of our relationship with God for lesser material relationships when we become preoccupied with physical comfort and pleasure and too busy for the reading of His Word, prayer, and worship. “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God… (Deuteronomy 8:11-14)

We settle for lesser glory when we allow our carnal desires to cloud our judgment and overrule the Wisdom of God with respect to dating, marriage, business partnerships, and our choice of close friends. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God… (1 Corinthians 6:14-16)

Have you been settling for lesser glory in life? Have you been exchanging the ‘dimes’ of the Lord for the ‘nickels’ of this world? May you return to God and receive the fullness of His Glory in your life. …Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you… (Zechariah 1:3)