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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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We Simply Reflect His Glory

“‘My glory to another I will not give.’ We reflect it, but we don’t have it. We are grateful for it, but we don’t create it. We tell others of it, but we don’t act as though it is ours. He doesn’t give that to any other. It is His and His alone, this glory that only He can give. Someday that glory will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea in that kingdom yet future. But for now, it resides in Him and we wait upon that ultimate day.”

He Emanates the Light, We Reflect It

“But when you turn to Isaiah, chapter 42, you come to a realization that this glory is now to be displayed in our lives, and He, like the sun, emanates the light, but we, like the moon, reflect it. He gives the glory. He is the glory. And as we reflect it, we become those who manifest those qualities in our lives.”

Seek the Lord Continually

“Don’t ever forget that. As long as he sought the Lord, the Lord prospered him. As long as he started his day saying, ‘Lord, I need you. Lord, I’m dependent on you. Lord, I can’t lead these people. They’re all older than I, most of them wiser and far further down the road than I, or maybe I ever will be. Lord, guide me. Lord, control me. Lord, decide through me and speak through me and lead through me. It’s for Your glory, Lord.’ We all start like that.”

Give the Glory Back to God

“I fear that kind of success for you. Now, that’s what the world shoots for. That’s what the big guys, the big gals, those up there in the upper ranks, that’s what they live for. Don’t live for that. If it happens, it happens. Stay surprised. Live your life on tiptoe, wondering what it is God may plan to do next through you or with you, or often in spite of you. Remember the glory? He doesn’t give it to any other. It all keeps going back to Him. And I don’t mean that in a phony way. I mean you really think like that.”

Glory Forever Belongs to God

“How easy it is for us in ministry and for anyone in a position of authority, responsibility, influence, and tragically as a result, popularity, for an individual begin to believe his own stuff, start reading his own clippings, start taking the glory that still and will forever belong to the living God.”

Humble, Mold, and Change Us

“Lord God, whatever it will take and for however long it will take You to do it, we invite You to break us and mold us and change us and humble us and keep us there and hold us there. Develop within us a heart that’s contrite, a spirit that’s teachable, a love that’s genuine and pervasive, and a gentle spirit of humility. Our Father, regardless of how You may use us or whatever role You may have us fill, to You be the glory and to You be the praise forever and ever.’”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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