Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalms 115:1)
”Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” This refrain was sung by the people of Israel during times of public worship. This declaration is that glory belongs not to God’s people, but to God because of his steadfast love and his faithfulness. We need to remind ourselves of this every single day. We’re tempted to do things to bring glory to ourselves. But we are undeserving of glory. In Psalm 8:4 the question is asked, “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? The implication of that question is that when compared to the vastness of the universe and the unsurprising greatness of our God it is surprising that God would show man such attention and care.
God’s care and, as Psalm 115 puts it, his steadfast love and faithfulness are displayed most clearly in Jesus. Jesus was obedient to his Father to the point that he laid his life down for sinners like you and I. We do not save ourselves. When left to ourselves we are sinners bound for destruction but because of Jesus we have hope of eternal life. So remind yourself that apart from God we have nothing. Seek to make much of our Lord and not ourselves. Live for the glory of God’s name and not our own.