It is not about us
John 7: 15-19 “The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.”
May the world see God not us, v16
Behind every rabbi was the teacher who taught that rabbi. That’s who people would look for. Jesus says, ‘Behind me is God.’ In all that we say and do, may our world see God.
May people discover the truth of what we say as they are obedient to God, v17
The Gospel isn’t always received well. Usually people don’t want to obey God because of the challenge it brings to do so. But those that do then come to realise the truth of our words.
May we not get in the way through our ambition to be seen and heard, v18
Sacrifice is the way to bring glory to God. There isn’t another way. As we surrender our lives to Him and love Him sacrificially by going to those who need Him then He will be glorified. We need to decrease so He can increase. We need to be less so He can be more. We need to get out of the way so others can find the way to Him.
Missions Paul 