Tag: glory
Blessed Sleep
Scripture reading for August 26: Psalm 3:3-6 “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head. I cried to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy hill. (Selah) I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
One of the common health issues of our time is sleeplessness. This malady can come from a number of causes from worry and fear to physical problems like sleep apnea and insomnia. God’s Word in Psalms addresses this issue of sleeplessness coming from fear. The psalmist knows and declares by faith that God is his Shield of protection. Even if thousands were arrayed against him, he could still lie down and sleep because God would sustain him. God would nourish his soul and bring him through the night with refreshing sleep. God would also be his Glory and the lifter of his head when burdened down by worry or fear. When the psalmist contemplated God’s glory, his focus was on the greatness and splendor of God and problems melted into the background.
Jesus gave an invitation to all who were weary and heavy with the cares of life. He invited them to come to Him and cast all their cares on Him. They were to take His yoke upon them and learn from Him. He was gentle and humble and through surrender to Him, they would find the rest that they so desperately needed. If you struggle with sleep issues or rest issues, finding yourself tired all the time, why not take Jesus at His Word?
Prayer: Father God, I come to You at Your Word that promises refreshing and sustaining sleep and rest from life’s burdens. Teach me Your humble and gentle way of living, trusting fully in God to meet all my needs. I will find true rest in You. Thank You Lord! Amen!
Day 4–Provided with Life and Godliness
Scripture reading for April 23: 2 Peter 1:2-4 “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
When we think of God as a provider, we usually think of material things that we need or want. We are told in Scripture to pray and ask God for our daily bread. We are told we can ask Him for anything he has promised and He will provide. But Peter, writing to the church right before his death, asked that grace and peace be multiplied to the believers. This would be appropriated through a knowledge of our Lord Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. Grace and peace are provisions only God can give us.
Peter taught that the resurrected Jesus through His divine power had granted believers everything they needed for life and godliness. Jesus’ glory and perfection in holiness was imparted to believers through the promised Holy Spirit as a down payment. Believers could appropriate and partake of God’s divine nature through faith in His promises and allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell within. These promises are more precious than gold or precious jewels. They are promises of eternal life, healing, joy unspeakable and full glory at Christ’s second coming. These promises help us escape corruption and the punishment of eternal damnation coming through our fleshly appetites.
As first responders who believe in Jesus Christ, we should strive to know Him and the power of His resurrection. To do this, we should read and listen to God’s Word and claim by faith the precious promises. We can live in grace and peace and more effectively help those in various troubles. We can reflect Jesus Christ to the world.
Prayer: Thank You Father for providing everything that I need for life and godliness as I live in a corrupted world. Help me to keep Your precious promises in my mind and heart so I can partake of Your divine nature and live eternally in Your glory. Amen.
Behold The Bride–Wife of the Lamb!
Scripture reading for December 29: Revelation 21
“Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:9-11
“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day–and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:22-27
God lifted the curtain on His completed world view for the beloved apostle, John. One of the seven angels who had poured out the wrath of God on the earth invited John to behold the Bride of the Lamb. John was taken to a high mountain and saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. This glorious city sparkled like a rare jewel and was illuminated with the glory of God and the lamp of the Lamb. All nations were represented as believers from every tongue and tribe filled the city in the dwelling places provided by the Lamb.
The angel emphasized that nothing unclean would ever be allowed in this city, only those who had been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb would have their names inscribed on the register of the New Jerusalem, the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who refused Christ’s offer of mercy must instead be cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15) There they would suffer eternal fire and separation from the Lamb.
How does this vision of the reward of those who have believed on Jesus Christ help you to continue in faith? Is it comforting to know that members of every tribe and nation will be part of the Bride? Do you understand the justice of God in punishing those who refused His Son?
Prayer: Father God, You are just and true to Your Word and deserve our eternal worship and humble service. I ask for mercy for all my children, grandchildren, and relatives yet to be born. May they hear the Gospel and their names be written in the Book of Life. Amen.
Finding true life!
Scripture reading for January 22: Matthew 16
“”Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until the see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16:24-28
Peter had just made a strong confession of faith that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16) Jesus went on to reveal to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer and die but on the third day be raised from the dead. Peter rebuked Jesus for such teaching! Peter loved His Lord and did not want to hear of this happening. Jesus then rebuked Satan for using Peter to think naturally instead of spiritually! (Matthew 16:22-23) This exchange makes us examine our own world views concerning what following Jesus really means and what really leads to true life.
Jesus taught His followers that there was a cost in their chosen journey. They, as He would soon do, must take up a cross, denying themselves their own desires and life goals. They must be willing to lay down their lives to find eternal life in His eternal kingdom. His questions to them: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” and “What shall a man give in return for his soul?” Jesus revealed His future return in glory with the holy angels to judge each person for their deeds. Each person will have to give an account. This somber truth is meant to encourage His followers to remain faithful.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking plainly to me and all mankind concerning our need to follow Jesus no matter what it might cost. I have nothing to give in exchange for my soul but my faith in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for me and His resurrection to glory. I await His return for me! Amen.
Give careful thought to your ways!
Scripture reading for September 25: Haggai 1-2
Have you ever struggled with priorities? Mary and I had just about gotten our children through college and the last one was ready to get married. We were enjoying our first senior pastorate in Lacey, Washington and an empty nest. We loved to go antiquing and sight-seeing on my day off. None of those things were sinful and we were having a good time. Then God spoke to us through a missionary and our friends about enlarging our family by adoption. To be honest, that choice did not initially look like something we wanted to do. We wrestled with it for some time, before becoming settled on the Lord’s will and priority for our lives. It was not easy, but has been the most rewarding blessing!
Haggai was speaking to people who had chosen to come back from Babylon and rebuild the temple and Jerusalem. Initially, these people had the right priority but they drifted away from the priorities that once motivated them and began to focus on themselves, their own houses, and family needs. They neglected the house of the Lord! (Haggai 1:2-4) Haggai spoke to them from the Lord: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains, and bring down timber and build a house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, “says the Lord.” (Haggai 1:5-8)
Have you experienced lack of satisfaction and lack of fulfillment? It may be your priorities are out of whack like those who were in Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord’s temple. They had gotten their focus onto themselves and their houses and neglected God’s house! God was gently reminding them of their priorities. If we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, everything we need will be added to us. If we try to grab what we need, even what we have will be lost! (Matthew 6:33)
We need to be about God’s business because a shaking is coming! (Haggai 2:6) God is going to shake the earth, sea, and all the nations of the earth. The ‘Desired of the Nations’ (Jesus Christ) is coming and will fill His house with glory! Jesus Christ did this in human form about 500 years after Haggai’s time. He will do it again during the millennial reign following the rapture of the church. The temple was the place of His first house and we are His temple today! “”The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:9)
The Glory returns!
Scripture reading for August 28: Ezekiel 40-43
“Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with His glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell face down. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. The the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.“ Ezekiel 43:1-5
Ezekiel had been taken with the “hand of the Lord” upon him to the city of Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 40:1) It was not quite the “hair-raising” experience of his first trip! (Ezekiel 8:3) This time Ezekiel found a heavenly being with an appearance that glowed like bronze. This man had a linen cord and measuring rod in his hand and told Ezekiel to pay attention and tell the house of Israel everything he saw. This ‘man’ proceeded to measure everything in the temple and surrounding area, showing Ezekiel that the temple had been precisely rebuilt.
It was after this measuring job that Ezekiel beheld his vision of a returning Glory! He saw the cloud of glowing Glory coming from the east! The land was radiant with the glowing fire, and the Lord’s voice was like roaring waters! He saw the glory of the Lord enter the temple where it had departed, through the east gate! Suddenly, Ezekiel found himself inside the temple and it was filled with Glory! (Ezekiel 43:3-5)
From inside the temple, a Voice spoke to him. “Son of Man, this is the place of My throne and the place for My feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.” (Ezekiel 43:7) Ezekiel was told that he was to describe the temple to the Israelites and that as they considered the plan, if they would be ashamed of all their sins, God would reveal His design of the temple to them! (Ezekiel 43:10-11)
Today, this beautiful restored temple is currently composed of living stones. God’s glory fills each stone as they look to Jesus Christ, Who baptizes them in His Holy Spirit! They now know Him and His laws are written on their hearts and God has forgiven them their sins and remembers them no more. (Ezekiel 36:24-27) (Jeremiah 31:31-34) We will behold His glory from within the heavenly city forever and ever!
Response to a revelation of God’s holiness
Scripture reading for July 17th: Isaiah 5-8
In the presence of the Lord there is an awesome awareness of God’s holiness and glory and of our sinfulness and need of cleansing. The stories of encounters with the Lord in Scripture record humbling effects on those so blessed to experience a personal visitation. It is always by God’s initiative that He reveals Himself to a man or woman. We can’t command a visitation although we can ask humbly. Job asked to have an audience with His maker and found himself unable to answer and repented following the encounter. (Job 42:2-6) Isaiah had a visitation and confessed his sin quickly.
During Isaiah’s encounter, he beheld the Lord on a throne with His robe filling the temple. Above and around Him were heavenly being called seraphs, or “burning ones”. They had six wings and used these to fly and cover their faces and feet. They were calling to each other “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3) When they spoke, their voices shook the doorposts and thresholds of the temple and smoke filled the house. This ‘smoke’ was the tangible glory of God!
Isaiah himself began to cry out in terror of judgment in the presence of this Holy One and His burning angels! He immediately knew his sin would bring judgment and death. He understood that all people among whom he lived were also sinful and were in danger of judgment! Seeing God’s great white throne would spell disaster! (Revelation 20:11-14) God saw his heart and repentance and heard his confession. He sent one of the seraph’s with a burning coal from the altar and applied it to the prophet’s mouth. His sin was taken away and atoned for.
After cleansing, Isaiah heard the Lord’s personal call: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for Me?” Isaiah quickly responded with “Here am I, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) God told Isaiah that He was sending him to a people whose hearts were calloused and their ears were dull. They had become hardened and would become harder as they refused to listen to God’s prophet! (Isaiah 6:9-10) Jesus quoted these verses as He spoke to the religious people of His day. (Matthew 13:13-15)
In summary, the open heaven Isaiah experienced brought revelation of God’s glory. This led to awareness and confession of his sinfulness and cleansing by God’s grace through fire from the altar. After cleansing he heard God’s call and obeyed! Why not ask God for a fresh revelation of His holiness and glory?
Jesus the joyful and glorious King!
Scripture reading for March 3rd: Hebrews 1, Psalm 45, Proverbs 14
Hebrews 1:3-4, 8-9 “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the Name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” . . .“But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.”
Hebrews opens with a powerful statement about Jesus Christ, Son of God. The writer of Hebrews stated that Jesus was the full radiance of God’s glory and was an exact representation of God’s nature. Not only that, but the Son of God upholds the entire creation by His powerful Word. After defeat of death and hell on the cross, the Son has taken His rightful place at God’s right hand, ruling with authority. The writer of Hebrews then declares the truth of Psalm 45:6-7 by quoting them as applying to Jesus Christ. Like God, Jesus is an eternal ruler who loves righteousness and hates wickedness. Because of this, the Father anointed His Son with the oil of gladness above all others! He is the meek Son of Man who now is the victorious Son of God calling out to all mankind to join in His glad and glorious and righteous reign!
Psalm 45:4-6 “In Your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let Your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to earth in the meekness of human flesh. Thank You for raising Him from the dead in victory over sin and death, making a way that all sinners such as I might enjoy an eternal relationship with You. Thank You for the gift of righteousness and the oil of gladness you pour out on all who believe and join in the bridal company awaiting the coming king!
Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Jesus lifted up will draw all people!
Scripture reading for November 8th: John 12
Key Scriptures: John 12:20-26 “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him.””
John records this incident of some non-Jews, Greeks, who came up to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover feast at the time Jesus was going to offer Himself as the final Passover sacrifice as the ‘Lamb of God’. They came to the disciple Philip who was from Galilee and asked to see Jesus. Philip served them by going to Andrew and together they went and found Jesus and told him about these Gentiles. Jesus gave them an answer: “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. . . If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” Jesus served His Father and us out of love and obedience. This brought glory as all people would be drawn to Christ through the cross and resurrection.
John 12:27-30 “”Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there heard it and said that it thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”“
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for opening my eyes from the darkness of sin to behold Christ Jesus in His glory of self-sacrificing service to mankind and the complete obedience to You and Your Word. Thank You for drawing all mankind, Jews and Gentiles, to see Jesus in His glory. Help me to follow You and worship You through obedient service and preaching the true Gospel.
John 12:30-33 “Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not Mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death He was going to die.”
All Glory to the God of Israel!
Scripture reading for July 19th: Matthew 15
Key Scriptures: Matthew 15:27-31 “She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And He went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to Him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at His feet, and He healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.”
Jesus had just healed instantly the Canaanite woman’s daughter who was oppressed by a demon. Her faith had brought Jesus’ mercy and healing power. Jesus then walked by the Sea of Galilee and went up on a hillside as great crowds of people brought to Him all manner of sick and hurting people. He healed them all and brought great awe and wonder as He performed miraculous healings and restoration. The people began to praise the God of Israel for what they were experiencing! God was in their midst as the Son of God, Jesus Christ shared the Father’s love and mercy, and had compassion on the hungry people.
Matthew 15:32 “Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they gave been with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to sent them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, thank You for Your great compassion on those wounded by sin and sickness and hunger in this fallen world. As You called Your disciples to share Your compassion, fill me with love and compassion and use me to bring healing and restoration and food to the hungry! All glory to the God of Israel!
Psalm 57:5, 11 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth!”