Your true worth

Give glory to your son. (John 17:1)

Have you ever seen someone grandstand? You know, trying to grab all the attention for themselves? Some athletes do it after a big game. Some political leaders do it by staging photo ops and giving lengthy speeches to highlight how connected they are with various interest groups. It’s funny, though: the more people seek the spotlight, the less credible—and interesting—they become!

What Jesus does in today’s Gospel reading is the complete opposite of grandstanding. When he prays, “Give glory to your son,” he is not asking for his own glory. In the very next line, he says, “So that your son may glorify you” (John 17:1). In everything he did, Jesus sought to be the perfect reflection of his Father’s glory. He wasn’t interested in celebrity. He wouldn’t have submitted to the cross if he were. And yet he is the most famous person who ever lived. All that humility, love, mercy, and selfless giving did not go unnoticed! 

There is a lesson for us here. We can be so achievement oriented that we miss the grace that is present for us by simply welcoming the Lord into our everyday lives. If we accomplish something that is recognized as important, that’s when we feel important. If we don’t, we can end up feeling unappreciated or worth less than someone else. But our true glory is in God, just as it was for Jesus. It isn’t in what we accomplish or how much recognition we receive for our faithfulness. It’s in nothing less than the great privilege of knowing the Lord, being loved by him, and having him make his home in our hearts.

What will that look like for you today? You probably have some very routine tasks to perform—things that you’ve done countless times and have received little recognition for. Maybe it’s making breakfast for the kids or making sure the bills get paid on time. As you do these mundane, thankless jobs, ask Jesus to be with you. Let them become acts of love for your family and worship for him. Even if you seem invisible to the people around you, know that Jesus sees you. Know that you are glorifying him by your love and faithfulness.

“Lord, help me find your peace, your joy, and your love in all that I do. Let me bring glory to your name!”

from wau.org