Giving glory

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. –Luke 17:17-19

Don’t be surprised when I share with you that there are “Holy Ghost Playboys” in the church. “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour” (2 Timothy 2:20). These men dress great and smell better as they flatter the silly women around them with their silky smooth words of woo. They bring flowers and small gifts as they talk about God and start things off slowly by inviting them out for coffee. Then they tell her how anointed she is and how powerfully God will use her. He continues to use his strategy with expertise that has been perfected from its use time and time again in other churches with other women.

Then he slowly moves in for what he is after, his fleshly gratification at her expense. It has been said that you cannot drop a lobster into hot water because it will claw itself out of the pot, but if you put them in cold water and then slowly heat it to cooking temperature, the lobster will not notice the change. The playboy looks for women he can get into their lives slowly, then begins to work toward the mark, counting on them, not noticing his real motives. He continues to say everything she wants to hear until he gets what he wants; then, the gifts and compliments stop as he leaves the church to find his next mark. She is left devastated in a state of sorrow, realizing she has been tricked into a terrible sin against the God she truly loves. So how do you feel about this man I have described? What if his mark were your daughter, your wife, or you?

You know, we seem to woo God with our affection and attention, especially when we need him. When we want something from him, we can be like the Holy Ghost Playboy, doing and saying everything we know God wants to hear. But the moment he meets our needs, we stop all the things that got his attention and move on to the next thing that will gratify us. Let us break this cycle and relentlessly thank God for the great things he has done in our lives. He should never feel rejected like the silly women who have been used up for the satisfaction of another. He loves us so dearly, and we should continue to shower him with love before, during, and after his mighty acts in our lives! Let us return to him, giving glory for what he has done because he is worthy of praise!