Give to the Lord the glory due His name. 1 Chronicles 16:29

When Michelangelo finished painting the Sistine Chapel and received accolades from onlookers, he did not give credit to his paintbrush. Such a thing would be absurd. It was the artist who was responsible for the work; the brush was merely a tool used to carry out the creator's vision.

God's plan is like the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and we are but the paintbrushes in the hands of the Master Artist. Each one of us is used in a unique way to carry out a portion of His plan, but we must remember to whom the glory belongs. For though we are called upon to be a part of God's grand scheme, when we stand back and view the masterpiece that emerges in the end, we will realize that only one so great as Almighty God could have produced such beauty.

The Bible says, "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31b). When we remove our "self" from the picture, it becomes easier to achieve that goal. It also frees us from spiritual pride and allows us to be used to our fullest potential for the Lord. We can take joy in knowing God has chosen us to accomplish His goals; we must also take care to give Him the honor and glory that He so deserves.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done!