Persecution vs Glorification

"All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the Glory of God."    

2 Corinthians 4:15

This morning my hubby asked," Do you think whenever we don't glorify Christ, we persecute Him." My initial response was," no, I don't think persecution is the opposite of glorification." He knows I can't just let those things go." What are you reading?", I said. He was reading Oswald Chambers today and Chambers can often be so challenging as to turn the squeamish away. After reading it, I sat down to scour the scriptures to prove Mr. Chambers wrong.

"Stubbornness and Self-will will always stab Christ," Chambers says. Ouch! How often do we just laugh off our stubborness and selfishness as our nature - the way we were raised. "Oh no one is happy if Momma's not happy." " I was a spoiled kid"  Do we think we are being cute with these statements? I certainly don't want Christ interfering in my life. I want my old habits and I want to spend my money on me - that's why I earn it.  Not only do we do things that persecute Christ unwittingly, sometimes we stand up and say it proudly ," I am going to stand up for myself and not get pushed around." I don't see anything glorifying God in any of this. Every time I say - or think- anything self centered or self glorifying, I cannot be glorifying Christ. I just didn't realize that I was persecuting Christ. Where is my thanks justified, in my own accomplishments or what Christ does through me. God gave me everything because of His grace and I take it and say,"I deserve it."

Chambers parting challenge is," All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with him....this will mean that others will use me, go around me or totally ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted." That is a tough call to duty. If I become "smaller' Christ becomes bigger and what isn't more wonderful than that.