10 Days: Sample Day 1

The ultimate goal of Christianity isn’t our own moral improvement; it is God’s glory.

Many of us grew up with our parents reading us fables, fairy tales, and other bedtime stories. As children, we knew the stories weren’t factual. But that wasn’t their point. The purpose of these stories was to teach us valuable lessons. They used fanciful imagery to illustrate how the world works and to help us lead better lives.

Many people treat Christianity in much the same way. They say it doesn’t matter if the story of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection is true. All that matters is that it compels us to become better people. But two problems exist with seeing Christianity that way: 1) the Bible tells us that the truth of the story really does matter and 2) the Bible also tells us that no matter how hard we try, we really can’t be good.

Yes, the way Christians behave matters. Jesus gave many instructions regarding how his followers should act, from how they treat others to what they do with their money. But the key lies in the intention behind those actions. Followers of Jesus are meant to think, act, and love as Jesus did—but not just for the sake of being a good person.

The ultimate goal of Christianity isn’t our own moral improvement; it is God’s glory. Paul sums it up concisely in 1 Corinthians 10:31 when he writes, “Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.”

Consider This

• If the goal of Christianity is not to “be good,” where did we get that idea?
• What do you think it means to give glory to God?

Take Action

Spend some time this week diving in to the concept of glorifying God. You can start by taking a look at what the Bible has to say. Do a search for verses that related to the glory of God. You can also check out some supplemental resources, like credible biblical commentaries or a study Bible, to deepen your understanding.