We define God’s glory as His manifested presence, character and power. God revealed His glory in creation, and in His dealings with His people throughout the ages of time. God’s ultimate revelation of His glory is in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 4:4, Colossians 1:15). When the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, we beheld the glory of God (John 1:14). Jesus’ death and resurrection made God’s glory available to every authentic Believer (Matthew 27:51). If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8).
A life of sin separates us
from God. He hides His face from all sin (Isaiah 59:2). However, God entices everyone to come to salvation through the
Good News of Jesus Christ, so we can share in God’s glory (2
Thessalonians 2:14). When we repent of our sinful
lifestyle and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to
experience the fullness of God’s glory (2 Thessalonians 2:14). We can develop the habit of praying without ceasing
by communing with Christ within us every waking moment of our day and night (1
Thessalonians 5:17).
The
glory of God in Christ shines in us (Ephesians 5:14). However, we often get too busy to give God much of
our time. We live in stress and unhappiness, wondering where God is in the
midst of our pressured life. Would you want Jesus to visit some of the places
you go to, to see what you look at, to hear what you listen to, or to be
imposed upon by the people you spend most of your time with? God is justified
when He punishes unrepentant sinners, because they condemn themselves by their
unbelief (John 3:18).
Nevertheless, the Lord is
compassionate and gracious to us all (John 3:16). He is slow to anger because of His abounding love
and faithfulness. He loves the whole world and forgives the wickedness,
rebellion and sin in anyone willing to ask for forgiveness (Exodus
34:6-7; John 3:16-17). Now is the time
to stop this sin-filled lifestyle. Our circumstances have the ability to
overwhelm us to the point of ill health. Once we choose to stop the
merry-go-round of life and get off, then we can completely surrender to the
will of God each moment of the day.
When
we awaken from our sin-induced slumber, we are Born Again from the consequences
of Adam’s sin, and from the death of a carnal lifestyle. When we allow Christ to remove the veil of sin from
our eyes, we can see more clearly and reflect the glory of the Lord. His Spirit
makes us more like Him and changes us into His glorious image over our lifetime
(2
Corinthians 3:18). This is when we fully
realize that Jesus lives in us, accompanies us throughout life and wants to
live through us to further His Kingdom in the earth.
Christ in us gives us the
opportunity to live in God’s presence continually (Psalm
105:4). Although
our body is subjected to death because of Adam’s sin, the Spirit of God gives
us eternal life because of the righteousness of Christ in us (Romans
8:10). Moses personally saw God’s glory;
but Born Again Believers actually experience more of His glory than Moses did (Isaiah
60:1). All the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form dwells
in Jesus (Colossians 2:9). Jesus
is actually the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8). This same Christ lives in
us by His Holy Spirit; therefore, the glory of God dwells in every authentic,
Born Again Believer (Exodus 23:21; Isaiah 40:4; Colossians 1:27).
Prayer:
Father God, You do not give
us a spirit of fear, which keeps us in bondage. You give us Your Spirit of
adoption, so we can live as Your children throughout eternity (Romans
8:16). You give us the right to address
You as, “Abba, Father,” “Daddy God” (Romans 8:15). Thank You for making us joint-heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17). Even if we are required to suffer with Christ, You
planned it so that we will also share in His glory. This reduces the pain of
our suffering in this earthly realm, because we realize that trials produce in
us Your eternal glory (Romans 8:18).
Thought for the Day:
Even creation yearns for the
manifestation of the sons of God, because creation knows it will be delivered
from the bondage of corruption and from the curse of Adam’s sin, and it will be
given glorious liberty with the children of God. - Romans 8:19, 21
