July 2

Luke 7:11-17 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" (v. 16).

Observation

How great is Jesus’ love and power? Soon after Jesus’ encounter with the faith-filled centurion, he met a funeral procession. On the bier was the body of a widow’s only son. Jesus saw her tears and was moved and said: “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead boy awoke.

On the surface, the miracle seems to have been born out of compassion for the boy’s weeping mother. Yes, there was compassion involved, but there was something much grander taking place – God was being glorified! The ultimate purpose of all miracles is to see God glorified; the benefit to me is secondary.

Application

When I pray for a miracle, which do I seek more – my benefit or God’s glory? Sadly, most of the time I seek my own benefit first with little regard for what God gets out of it. There’s a difference between praying, “God, heal me of my illness.” Period. And, “God, heal me of my illness SO THAT you may receive glory and honor through my healing…” Of course, God knows if I’m just playing him by throwing in “so that” and the mention of his glory, or if I’m truly seeking God to be glorified first and foremost. While love and compassion are involved in God’s response to my prayer, the ultimate purpose of any request must be to see God glorified. The benefit to me is secondary.

Prayer

Lord, help me to desire your glory more than my own benefit. I’m a selfish man and I treasure myself more than I treasure you. Help me to repent of my sin. Change me so that I yearn for your worth and beautify to be revealed above all else. In Jesus' name, amen.

--P. Michael