In His Glory???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #263

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things…

…. 13 I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me…

… 18 But I have all,

and abound:

I am full,

having received of Epaphroditus

the things which were sent from you,

an odour of a sweet smell,

a sacrifice acceptable,

 wellpleasing to God.

19 But my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches

in glory

by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father

be glory for ever and ever.

Amen.”  Portions of Philippians 4:6-20

While these are some of my favorite passages, I want to take a little bit of a different spin on them.  God laid something on my heart recently that I had never thought about; for we see so many things in scripture that refer to the “glory” of God—and I think that we may not be thinking about this in its fulness.  We often think of God’s glory as the bright shining light, the beauty that is so aptly described in much of The Revelation about our God and Jesus, The Son, but I think often we get so caught up in the “bling” that we miss something simple—God IS glory—it is His nature, His character as well as the exhibition of His power toward us; especially those things that scripture ties with Jesus’ ministry to His own.  Even as Jesus talks about in the letter to the Laodicean church.  His glory isn’t something we purchase with money, good works, or virtue, but by God’s grace, bought and paid for at Calvary, for whosoever will come to Jesus in repentance and faith/belief in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for my sin and yours—for all have sinned!  Note what Jesus says to this “church”!

“Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art

wretched,

and miserable,

and poor, and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love,

I rebuke

and chasten:

be zealous therefore,

and repent.”  Revelation 3:17-19

This is the work of God, to buy without money!  It comes by faith in His Son; even as Isaiah painted God’s picture of this.

“Ho, every one that thirsteth,

come ye to the waters,

and he that hath no money;

come ye,

buy,

and eat;

 yea, come,

 buy wine

and milk

without money

and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money

for that which is not bread?

and your labour

for that which satisfieth not?

hearken diligently unto me,

and eat ye that which is good,

 and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear,

and come unto me:

hear,

and your soul shall live;

and I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

even the sure mercies of David.”  Isaiah 55:1-3

Jesus reminds us that even within the church we can become so self-satisfied and consumed with the world.  We can become so deceived that Jesus could say of us:

 “Because thou sayest,

I am rich, and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art

wretched, and miserable,

and poor, and blind, and naked…”

An unexpected message to a self-sufficient church, counting on all their “stuff” as their sufficiency.  Yet Jesus gave them an unexpected, but true, description of their spiritual state; calling them to see their real condition and be zealous to repent.  Isaiah tells us how they can buy without funds?  We must come to God in our abject spiritual poverty seeking what only He can give.  We must come as the tax-collector that Jesus spoke of.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray;

the one a Pharisee,

and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,

God, I thank thee,

that I am not as other men are,

extortioners, unjust,

adulterers,

or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week,

I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican,

standing afar off,

would not lift up so much as his eyes

unto heaven,

but smote upon his breast, saying,

God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you,

this man went down to his house justified

rather than the other:

for every one that exalteth himself

shall be abased;

and he that humbleth himself

shall be exalted.”  Luke 18:10-14

As long as we think we have our own glory, we have no need of God, and we will never understand the glory of God that comes to those who bow, like this publican, and ask for His mercy and saving grace in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin.  He who has no sin, has no need of a Savior (in his own mind)!  God’s glory is His very nature, and He pours out of His grace and mercy so that we can recognize His glory when we bow.  And just a few scriptures to bring this into focus.  Sin is the issue, and if you haven’t seen your sin, you may need to listen to Jesus’ message to the Laodicean church.   Remember Jesus is God and exhibits this very glory in all He does for us!

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”                   Philippians 2:9-11

Jesus came because of our sin.  Have you dealt with yours?

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23      

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

And Jesus’ own call to all will recognize what He is saying and come in response to His call.  Is He knocking at your heart’s door?  Won’t you invite Him in!  You will never regret it and then you will come to know His glory!

“Behold,

I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!