What Are You Seeking ?

John 7:18

“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”

This morning I was thinking about something Pastor Dennis Keating, the former senior pastor at Emmanuel Faith Community Church, once shared. He talked about stepping into leadership at a church that had already existed for more than 55 years. It was a deeply established church with strong leadership, strong traditions, and a rich history. And Dennis was only the fourth senior pastor in all those years.

The pastor before him gave him a piece of wisdom that stayed with him:

“Dennis, stay low before the Lord.”

That phrase has stayed with me today.

John 7:18 says:

“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”

As I look at the words of Jesus, I can’t help but think about the world we live in today. We are surrounded by opinions. Surrounded by information. Surrounded by noise. Everywhere we turn, there is another argument, another perspective, another demand to respond, react, defend, explain, or prove ourselves right.

And if I’m honest, there is something deep inside of all of us that wants to be heard.

We want people to understand our perspective. We want to explain why we feel the way we do. We want to defend ourselves. We want others to know when we think they are wrong.

But then I read these words from Jesus, and they are both humbling and convicting:

“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory…”

Jesus lived completely differently. Even though He was truth itself, He continually pointed back to the Father. He was not driven by self-promotion, self-defense, or the need to win arguments. His life reflected surrender, humility, obedience, and love.

And it makes me stop and think:

Just because I think something…
Just because I feel something…
Just because I have an opinion…
does not mean I have to say it.

There is such freedom in that.

Maybe this is part of what it means to stay low before the Lord.

In a world constantly demanding our opinion, our reaction, our defense, and our voice, staying low before Jesus frees us from the exhausting need to elevate ourselves.

When I stay low before the Lord, I no longer have to fight so hard to lift myself up before people.

As I seek selflessness, as I seek His kingdom first, I begin to realize that my desire should not be to elevate my own voice, my own ideas, or my own righteousness. My desire should be for His ruling and reigning in my life. For His heart to shape my heart. For His words to guide my words.

Jesus loved people even when they misunderstood Him. Even when they rejected Him. Even when they disagreed with Him.

And maybe part of spiritual maturity is learning that not every thought needs to be spoken, not every disagreement needs to become a debate, and not every moment requires our opinion.

Sometimes the greater testimony is humility. Sometimes the greater strength is restraint. Sometimes love speaks loudest through gentleness and silence.

When I stay low before the Lord, I do not have to strive for my own glory. I do not have to win every argument. I do not have to prove myself right. I do not have to make sure everyone understands me.

Instead, I can trust Him.

I can let His love shape my responses. His gentleness shape my words. His wisdom shape my silence.

Jesus never sought to glorify Himself. He continually pointed to the Father. And as His life is formed within us, we too begin to desire something greater than being heard—we begin to desire that He would be seen.

After His resurrection, Jesus declared:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” (Matthew 28:18)

What a freeing reminder. The burden of proving ourselves, defending ourselves, and elevating ourselves was never ours to carry. The One we follow is already seated on the throne. He is not anxious. He is not threatened. He is not struggling for influence or recognition. All authority belongs to Him.

And because it belongs to Him, we are free to walk humbly, trust deeply, love generously, and rest confidently in His care.

So today, may we look to Jesus.

May we model how He walked.

May we model how He listened.

May we model how He loved.

And may we become people who seek not our own glory, but the glory of the One who sent us.

As we walk humbly with our King, trusting the One to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given, may our lives increasingly reflect His heart, His humility, and His desire to glorify the Father.

May we continue to stay low before the Lord