Trading Glory

Romans 1:22–23 NKJV

“Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”

Good morning, friends.

There’s a tragic irony in today’s passage. Paul paints the picture of humanity at its most proud and most lost. Claiming to be wise, enlightened, evolved, and advanced, we turned from the one true God and made gods of our own design. Statues of birds and beasts replaced the glory of the invisible, eternal Creator. But Paul’s point runs deeper than just ancient idolatry. He’s exposing the human heart across all generations.

Even today, we trade the glory of God for things that are smaller, lesser, and corruptible. Instead of bowing before stone statues, we give our hearts to status, image, control, entertainment, or intellect. These aren’t just distractions, they’re substitutes. And they reveal a subtle shift in our thinking: from humility to hubris, from worship to self-glorification.

The sobering truth is that when we reject the knowledge of God, we don’t become free thinkers; we become fools. We don’t evolve upward, we devolve inward. But in this reflection lies a gift: the chance to repent. The chance to remember that the God we traded away hasn’t given up on us. He still calls us back to Himself, to His glory, to His life-giving presence.

We were made to reflect God’s glory, not replace it.

Today’s Reflection:

Is there anything in your life you’ve been placing above God: your time, your energy, your trust? Lay it down and turn back to the One whose glory never fades.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, I confess the ways I’ve let lesser things capture my heart. You alone are worthy of my worship. Help me to see where I’ve traded Your glory for empty things, and give me the courage to turn back. Fill me again with wonder for who You are. Amen.