Tag: face of Jesus
The Gospel of Glory!
Scripture reading for August 1: 2 Corinthians 4
“And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:2-7
After describing how the Spirit of God indwelling believers brings freedom and an ever-increasing transformation into the image of Christ and His glory, (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) Paul tells the believers that some cannot lay hold of the Gospel truth. Their enemy, Satan, has blinded their minds and hidden the light of the Gospel of Christ’s glory from them. They continue in darkness and remain unchanged and in bondage to sin and self. But this does not deter Paul and those helping him share the Gospel. Paul continued to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord as a faithful servant of God serving Jesus and others as He commanded.
Paul knew that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the power of God to salvation to those who would believe. (Romans 1:16) God used the Gospel to shine the light of His Son into darkened hearts. Through the Gospel, the glory of God in Jesus Christ’s face was unveiled and Satan’s darkness dispelled! Believers cannot be boastful about this, because this is all a work of God on their behalf. They have this treasure of the knowledge of God’s glory in Christ in their mortal body, likened to a jar of clay. But God through His Holy Spirit transforms our jars of clay ultimately into a glorious body, like Jesus’ glorious body! Amen!
Does your world view include the spirit world and an understanding of the god of this world, the devil? Have you heard the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, Son of God, dying on a cross as a sacrifice for sin? How has this Gospel helped you to understand the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ?
Prayer: Father God, I am so blessed to have heard the Gospel from a young age and to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to salvation and transformation. Thank You for those you sent as Your servants to share with me. Here I am, send me as Your servant and allow the light of Your glory to shine through me. Amen.
Following at a distance
Scripture reading for August 20th: Isaiah 7-10, Psalm 22, Matthew 26
Key Scriptures: Matthew 26:58, 73-75 “And Peter was following Him (Jesus) at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.”. . . .”After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Following Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter followed Jesus at a distance because he wanted to see what would happen. While in the courtyard of the High Priest were Jesus was being tried, Peter denied Jesus three times. Following the third denial, Scripture records that a rooster crowed. It also fulfilled Jesus’ prophetic Word that Peter, who claimed he would stick with Jesus no matter what, would actually deny Him three times. Luke records that Jesus looked at Peter at this point. Peter met His gaze and went out and wept bitterly at his own failure of His Lord. He learned the hard way that distance can lead to denial!
Psalm 22:24 “For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and He has not hidden His face from him, but has heard, when he cried to Him.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, but for Your grace and help, I could be like Peter in his weakest hour. Help me by Your grace and power through the Holy Spirit to follow You closely and to look at Your face and ask when I need mercy!
Isaiah 8:13 “But the Lord of Hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.”