Whom Do You Make Yourself?

Jesus taught His followers to glorify their Father, God, in all things. Matthew 5:14-16 gives an example, where Jesus said:

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Jesus taught His followers not to glorify themselves but their Father in heaven by their good works on earth. Whenever Jesus gives a direction like this, looking for a time in His life when He fulfilled the teaching Himself is beneficial.

In many cases, Jesus glorified the Father by giving Him credit for everything He did and spoke. In John 8:53-54, the Jews asked Jesus, “whom do You make yourself?” Jesus answered that He makes Himself no one, but all He is has come because it was the will of His Father in heaven. He said, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’”

By following the conversation from John 7:14 to this point, we see its intensity. Jesus and the Jews were discussing stressful and difficult subjects. Even then, Jesus continued to offer gentle correction to glorify our Father in heaven. Jesus could have easily overlooked this opportunity. Instead, Jesus determined to give His Father credit for every good thing in every moment and conversation. May each of us carry ourselves with similar determination.