We really got into it the other night...just me and my kids.
We found ourselves immersed, in deep, for what would become nearly 2 hours.
And it was fruitful.
What began as a moment of disciplinary intervention became rich discussion about what God calls us to in His Word. We discussed the importance of "trying our BEST" to honor the Lord in all things, remembering that we won't be perfect, but we should be striving with our BEST efforts. And I asked them, "Raise your hand if you can honestly say that you are trying your BEST."
A myriad of questions unfolded as one at a time I addressed each child by name.
We talked about the gospel and how fortunate these children are to live in a religiously free country with Christian parents who are committed to sharing our hope in Christ on a daily basis (multiple times each day really). We discussed the accountability accompanying such things and landed on an important question to ponder daily, hourly, min by min as we traverse through life:
"Does this glorify God?"
In every single thing we think, say, do, eat, wear, watch, listen to... "Does this glorify God?" We should be asking.
Before we speak our minds, before we think that thought, before we watch that movie, sing that song, post that post, go to that place, hang out with that someone, eat or drink that food or drink, read that book, article, magazine, wear that outfit, spend money on that whatever, sign up for that thing, or...fill in the _______ ...we should be asking ourselves this most important question:
"Does THIS glorify God?
"Does this thing I'm about to do glorify God?"
"Is my MOTIVE in this thing I'm about to do to glorify God?"
"WHY am I doing what I'm doing?"
"WHO or WHAT am I glorifying with my actions?"
"If Jesus was standing here watching me, knowing my heart, the only audience I have...would I do THIS?"
(Note: He is.)
"Does that thing I just did glorify God?"...and if it didn't we should be quick to repent, that is TURN from the wrong and run as fast and hard as we can in the opposite direction. We should be brave enough and humble enough before a holy God who loves us...to do that.
He loves us. He forgives.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9
When we choose to look at our every decision through the lens of this most important question,
we can see that if _______ glorifies God, then we should do it. If it doesn't, we shouldn't. It's as simple as that.
And so we embark upon another day in the life with this question on our minds...
"Does this glorify God?"
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
