Matthew 9:8     

“Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.”

The Church of God can be divided into three types of groupings. The first are those who glorify God and marvel, but they do this for a specific purpose. This group of people can be very active and committed to the things of God, but their motivation is because of the power of God expressed by men. It’s strange that they are glorifying God, not because of God but because His power is evident through men. They will follow the signs of power anywhere they see those signs, and they will celebrate God fervently because of the signs. The weakness of such followers is that signs can confuse them and they can become easily discouraged when they don’t see the signs they expect. Their state of marveling is usually very transient, fickle and unstable. It’s too dependent on the power of God flowing through men.

I must not be like the multitudes. I must worship God not because of what He does but because of who He is. God is majestic and awesome in Himself. Yes, we need Him to help us in a thousand ways, and we need to see His power working in our lives, but may we grow beyond marveling only when He does these things. May we marvel at God and glorify God for who He is. I believe this is God’s earnest desire of His children, and I am committed to grow beyond the lifestyle of the multitude. Whether the signs come or not, I will marvel at my Awesome God.

“Lord, I will glorify You for who You are and not primarily for what You do. You have been good to me, and I thank You for all Your tremendous blessings to me, but Lord, I marvel at who You are more than what You have done for me. Thank You for being the Great God that You are. Amen.”