What Difference Does the Reality of the Kingdom Make in My Life? | He Does for Me What I Cannot Do for Myself

by Bob Hamp

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:27–28

He walked into the office and waited his turn. The man he came to see had was a world-renowned dentist in great demand—known for his ability to repair and restore very difficult cases. When he was finally called into the treatment room and the exam was completed, the hygienist came in to give him the news. His mouth was in great shape. He had no cavities, and his gums were healthy; a simple cleaning was all he needed. His dental hygiene was great. But he left the office and never got to meet this renowned dentist. 

We all live with the weighty realization that we’ve been created to bring glory to God. Our lives are intended to glorify the One who created all things. All too often however, we shoulder the very burden that God intends to carry for us. In doing this, we glorify ourselves and not God. Showing Him our skills and strengths does not glorify Him. Bringing Him our needs and our weaknesses gives Him the opportunity to demonstrate His nature.

If God were a taskmaster, we would glorify Him by our work. If He were an employer, we would glorify Him by our service. God, however, introduces Himself as a father, a healer, a redeemer and one who binds up the brokenhearted. We glorify God by needing Him. We glorify Him by presenting openly to Him our need for healing and redemption. If you have taken care of all these things yourself, you may actually be glorifying yourself and not Him.

Jesus did not come searching for those who did a good job of managing their lives so that he could present them as trophies of man’s success to His Father. He came for the wounded, the brokenhearted, the captive and the blind. He can present people like this as trophies of His success and evidence of His goodness, rather than man’s capabilities.

1.  What is it you most want to present to God—your success stories or your needs?

2.  In what area have you been trying to do for God something that He may actually want to do for you?

3.  Have you ever known someone who seemed to have it all together who you later discovered was really struggling?