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Not So Glad Gladiators

In the 2nd century a phenomena broke out in Rome inside the coliseum.  Men became intoxicated with the glory of blood lust, while they watched gladiators fight to the death.  Crowds of over 500,000 would attend these shows of steel and death with giddy gladness.  It started with slaves and criminals being forced to train in gladiator schools and fight to the death, but as the years went by many "distinguished people" such as senators volunteered their lives to taste the glory of the coliseum.  What most people don't know is that at the height of the Roman empire, more than half of all gladiators were in this deadly profession by their own choice.  To see an aristocrat fighting against a slave or criminal would produce a frenzy in the crowd that many people lusted after.  What's my point?  People even want the glory in their death.  Our flesh longs for the glory.  Glory, we think, makes us glad like glad-iators.

We all love and know this verse because of the first part of it, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us....." "ooh", i say, "that makes me glad!" But the second part no one has memorized, "unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

I realize oftentimes I want victory for me.  Lord do this in me so I will be amazing!  Do this in me so this circumstance that I don't appreciate will go away.  Who cares about Your glory I just want this to be over and done with.

The WHY is very important.  WHY do I want victory in this, WHY do I want this circumstance over and done with, WHY do I want to be a super sheep?  The WHY brings gladness!  God's glory and our joy as John Piper has said, are not fighting, or at odds. I'm made to reflect God's glory, not because God needs me but because I need Him.  I come alive when I hunger to bring God glory.