How to Look Beyond the “Right” Way and See God’s Glory
I have tried for years to teach my sweet Pastor husband the right way to make a bed. I don’t think he cares. He follows through on every step except one. No matter how many times I’ve shown him how to make hospital corners, he refuses to do it on his own.
I was trained to make a bed with hospital corners. My mother taught me it was the right way to make the bed. Neither my husband nor my children have captured this belief. My sweet Pastor husband will tuck the sheet under the end of the bed; however, both my children throw the sheet on and call it good.
The Dilemma of the “Right” Way
Sometimes I get too caught up in doing something the “right” way. I’m convinced I’m correct, that my way is best. Sadly, I am not always patient with others who think differently.
Many of us experience this struggle. Our problem intensifies when we get too caught up in doing something the “right” way and miss the purpose of what we were doing. For example, how many of you want your Christmas tree decorated, and struggle when you get too much help that doesn’t feel helpful? Do you readjust the dishwasher after someone else loads it? Can you release the laundry, or the vacuuming, or washing the car to just anyone?
The “Right” Way Makes Sense
There are moments when the “right” thing seems rational or logical. For example, in the latter part of the book of Acts, many people tried to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem. One prophet even gave a visual of tying up his own hands and feet, then said the Holy Spirit told him this would happen to Paul in Jerusalem. For Paul’s safety, his friends believed the right thing to do was change his mind and stop him from traveling.
“Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’”
In the simple phrase, “the Lord’s will be done,” the people released their need to be right. Instead, they chose to focus on God and His sovereignty, along with His will and purpose for Paul. They trusted God’s wisdom, goodness, and provision.
Mary Released Being “Right”
When you read the Christmas story, you realize Mary released her need to be right as well. An angel shows up and declares God’s plan to Mary, a plan that makes no sense to her. I’m not sure Mary thought the plan made sense even after the angel answered her question of “How can this be?”
God asked Mary to go against the grain and live a life where many would jump to the conclusion, she didn’t do things the right way. In fact, Mary may have thought this isn’t the way things are supposed to be! Still, Mary made a choice to trust God, His wisdom, His sovereignty, and His power.
Trading Being “Right” for God’s Glory
As you read Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55, you see that Mary traded in her view of the right way to live for God’s glory in her life. “How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For He took notice of His lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things…” (Luke 1:47-51a)
The shepherds also traded in the right way of doing things to experience the glory of God. They held a solemn responsibility to care for the sheep. Sheep were food, as well as sacrificial offerings for the Jewish people to maintain their relationship with God. The shepherds knew the right thing to do, the responsible thing to do, was stay with the sheep no matter what.
However, the angel told them where to find the Messiah. Then, he followed up his announcement with a small taste of Heaven’s glory when the angel choir burst on the scene. I think the shepherds were left wondering what was more right: being responsible, or witnessing the birth of God’s promised Messiah?
The Lie of Being “Right”
Sometimes we get caught in the struggle of believing we must choose the right behaviors and decisions, or our lives will be in ruin. For whatever reason, we act in ways that say our behavior determines our worth.
Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23, no matter how many right things we do, it is never enough. All of us fall short of achieving the standard necessary to experience the glory of God. We are sinners to our core.
And there is hope.
Grace over Being “Right”
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
When we choose to place our trust in Jesus, we end up standing in immeasurable grace. As we experience Christ’s overwhelming grace, we rejoice because we know we now get to experience the glory of God. Just like Mary. Just like the shepherds.
Shift to Seeking Jesus
We were taught as small children there is a right way to behave. However, as adults we must shift from merely acting out good and right behavior to seeking Jesus, then following Him in obedience. That’s when we experience His glory.
I’m convinced we especially long to experience glory during the Christmas season. In addition, I believe we think we will achieve this goal when we celebrate Christmas in the “right” way. We establish habits and traditions we perceive create the ideal holiday. Unfortunately, we falsely assume that a perfect Christmas will lead to a more blessed life where we’ll revel in God’s glory.
We must remember we gain undeserved privilege because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Because we stand encompassed in grace, God opens the floodgate of His glory. Mary and the shepherds experienced God’s glory through seeking to obey, honor, and worship, as they lived in God’s embrace of grace.
What if we chose to let go of some of our habits and traditions and replaced them with time spent seeking God? I challenge you to release the “right” way to celebrate Advent. Read the Christmas story again with a fresh perspective; look beyond the events and seek God. Consider the following questions.
What do you learn about God?
What characteristics of God are on display, and how do you see those characteristics?
God is giving you His promised gift; can you visualize His face?
What expression do you see on God’s face? What do you see in His eyes?
Can you hear God’s voice?
Is He speaking to you? What is God saying specifically to you?
What emotions do you pick up in His words and the tone of His voice?
Jesus came to grant us the privilege of a restored relationship with Almighty God. God longs for us to know Him in all His wondrous majesty. He desires to renew our lives and fill our days with His glory.
The angel reassured Mary with the words, “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) We must shift from seeking to live life the “right way,” and seek Jesus Himself. He came to earth and then did what needed to be done. Because of Jesus’ birth, life, sacrificial death, and resurrection, we now stand in undeserved privilege. Like Paul and his friends, Mary and the shepherds, we must respond with obedience, gratitude, and wonder.
