What Does God's Glory Look Like?

The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

What do you think of when you think of God's glory? What does it look like? I imagine it is a brilliant, take your breath away moment. Much like Paul was blinded by the glory of Christ, the memory would be chiseled in your mind forever because of the impact seeing God would have.

And all of that is true. God's glory was demonstrated all throughout the Bible and even more so in the New Testament in the life of Jesus. What was the moment that Jesus' glory was most evident? When was it that his and God's glory was glaringly obvious? It was when he was hanging on the cross.

During that time, God's love for us was indisputable. Jesus' death, how it happened, what he suffered and more importantly why he died revealed the glory of a heart we will never truly understand. The depth of the love that led to that one event was never more awesomely demonstrated than when Jesus willingly sacrificed himself for us.

Satan wants us to believe that the glory of God has to look brilliant and sparkly. And sometimes it does. But don't get side-tracked looking for sparkly alone. Sometimes, God's glory is displayed with sacrifice. And truly, there is not greater glory than that.

Why Do You Do What You Do?

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

Every year I pick a character trait of God and ask him to show me what that means. One year, the word was joy. I wanted to understand the joy of the Lord. Last year, it was power. I wanted to experience his power. This year, my request is to understand his glory.

One of the verses I noticed (again) recently was 1 Corinthians 10:31. Isn't it funny that you can read a verse over and over again and when your focus changes just a little the verse takes on new meaning?

Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. What does that mean in simple terms? I was reading a devotional by John Piper and he said that glorifying God was living your life in such a way that you make God look great. 

That made me think. Do I? In everything I do, whether I'm eating, working, playing, am I making God look great? In every conversation I have, every encounter at work, at the market, at a restaurant with a waiter, on the phone with a telemarketer, am I making God look great?

We've all experienced people who call themselves Christians who don't make God look great and I am sad to say, I have done that. What does it take to live my life so that I make God look great?

I have to know him. I have to be in a relationship with him. I have to want what he wants and I have to be aware every moment that he is the end goal. Even though that sounds super lofty, it's easier to do than you'd think. If you desire a relationship with Jesus, keep showing up. Show up and spend time with him every day. Pray, read your Bible, ask questions and just be you. That's exactly where God is meeting you.  Right where you are.

A Minute In It - What Are You Striving For?

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Read through the Bible text and answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

Psalm 49
1  Listen to this, all you people!
    Pay attention, everyone in the world!
2 High and low,
    rich and poor—listen!
3 For my words are wise,
    and my thoughts are filled with insight.
4 I listen carefully to many proverbs
    and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.

5 Why should I fear when trouble comes,
    when enemies surround me?
6 They trust in their wealth
    and boast of great riches.
7 Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death
    by paying a ransom to God.
8 Redemption does not come so easily,
    for no one can ever pay enough
9 to live forever
    and never see the grave.

10 Those who are wise must finally die,
    just like the foolish and senseless,
    leaving all their wealth behind.
11 The grave is their eternal home,
    where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves,
12     but their fame will not last.
    They will die, just like animals.
13 This is the fate of fools,
    though they are remembered as being wise. Interlude

14 Like sheep, they are led to the grave,
    where death will be their shepherd.
In the morning the godly will rule over them.
    Their bodies will rot in the grave,
    far from their grand estates.
15 But as for me, God will redeem my life.
    He will snatch me from the power of the grave. Interlude

16 So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich
    and their homes become ever more splendid.
17 For when they die, they take nothing with them.
    Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
18 In this life they consider themselves fortunate
    and are applauded for their success.
19 But they will die like all before them
    and never again see the light of day.
20 People who boast of their wealth don’t understand;
    they will die, just like animals.

How are you measuring success? Do you look at those around you, take count of what they have and strive for that? What motivates your calendar and your finances? Where are you placing your priorities? What would God think of that?

He Did It On Purpose

The Father loves Me because I am willing to lay down My life—but I will take it up again. My life cannot be taken away by anybody else; I am giving it of My own free will. My authority allows Me to give My life and to take it again. All this has been commanded by My Father.  John 10:17-18 (VOICE)

Have you ever read the Bible in Job where God is saying "Look at my servant Job. Isn't he amazing!" (paraphrased) and then watch Satan focus on Job to try to break him? Have you ever thought "Lord, I appreciate that you might be proud of me but please don't point it out to Satan." I have. And then, I've read the text that says "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" and think "No, thank you. I don't want God to give me to anything." And I've wondered what Jesus felt like being "given." It almost feels like he didn't have a choice.

And that thought would be wrong. He did have a choice. In today's text Jesus makes it very clear. "I was willing! It was my choice. I chose to die and I chose to take my life back again. No one forced me!"

In other words "I meant it! I meant it! I meant it! I love you and that was the driving force behind my decision." He wasn't forced. He chose the hard thing so we could choose life.

Jesus, oh Jesus, I sit and think about the magnitude of this love. I think about who I have that kind of unconditional love for and honestly, it's a pretty small list. But you, you died for every single person. No matter who they were/are, where they were or are from or what they have  done or will do....there is no distinction.  Oh Jesus, help me to love like you. Amen.

The Underlying Plan

 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

Do you ever read this Bible text and think "Excellent! Lord, since you know the plan will you please lay it out for me so I know what we are doing?" I used to look at this text and think that the plan was a single thing that God had in mind and it was all tied up in a neat bow.

Over the years I have come to realize that the plan was a journey. The ultimate goal is a relationship with Jesus. That doesn't happen in a moment. It happens over a lifetime. A lifetime of ups and downs and ins and outs. A lifetime full of mistakes and successes and laughter and tears.

What does that mean?  It means that as we walk this path, travel on this journey, it was still all part of the plan God had for us. Sometimes the journey is hard. During those times, lean in to Jesus. When you stumble, hold on. And when you are laughing so hard the tears are rolling down your cheeks, give thanks. Every moment of your life is part of the plan. Embrace it.

Because it is ultimately God's plan, when you get to the end of the journey and you are face to face with Jesus, you will know it was worth it.

Knock, Knock! Who's There?

Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back. Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.  Revelation 3:19b-20 (VOICE)

When you read today's text you have to ask yourself "Am I listening for the knock?" The Bible is pretty clear that God is the one who initiates the relationship with us. He's talking, knocking, and impressing (among other things). Do you think we get so wrapped up in ourselves we don't hear it?

And what does it look like when we do hear it and open the door? I imagine sometimes we say things like:

"Sure Jesus, please come in. It's Tuesday night and I am watching my shows. Do you want to sit here on the couch with me?" Or how about "Jesus, Nice of you to stop by. I want to invite you in but it's super messy in here. If you would just stand out there while I clean up I'll invite you in when I'm ready." Here's another. "Jesus! Oh, I wasn't expecting you to come now.  I am so busy and gosh, I just don't have time for a conversation. Can you come back in a week or two? I can clear my schedule." One more. "Jesus, I would invite you in but I'm a little anxious about that. I'm pretty sure you would ask me to change things and do some things for you that I am uncomfortable with."

And then we say things like, "I never hear God."

Jesus wants you to "Be shamelessly committed to Him." like it says in verse 19 but he will not force himself on you. Jesus is always knocking. He's always talking and believe it or not, when we offer these excuses he doesn't push open the door and barge in. He says "Let's take this one step at a time. I am here when you are ready." But at some point, if you want to have a relationship with him, you are going to have to stop making excuses and open the door.

Running In The Right Direction

But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened. Luke 24:11-12 (NLT)

Peter had blown it. He had denied Christ three times and now, Jesus was dead. There was no fixing what he'd broken. Or so he thought.

When Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early on Sunday morning, Jesus' body was not there. Instead, an angel reminded them of what Jesus said. They rushed to the eleven disciples to share the good news! In verse eleven it says the men did not believe it. Everyone but Peter.

Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb. Do you think as he was running he was hoping and praying that maybe this was his second chance?  Maybe he could tell Jesus he was sorry and be forgiven? Do you think in his heart of hearts even though he knew it was crazy to believe that someone could rise from the dead, he also understood more about this Jesus since he denied him?

Isn't this the story of the gospel in a nutshell?  No matter what you've done, no matter how horrible you think it is, Jesus died and rose again so you would be forgiven. Peter saw his second chance and he went running toward it.

And when Peter turned to Jesus, God used his experience; his understanding of what the good news truly meant to build a church.

Jesus will do the same for us. No matter how many mistakes we make, he is offering us forgiveness. He's saying come; spend time with me. I have a job for you. Today, which way are you running? Toward Jesus or away from him?

He Is Not Here!

He is not here; he has risen!  Luke 24:6 (NIV)

Amen! Possibly the best words one could ever hear. He isn't here! He's gone! Satan has been conquered forever! He has defeated death and because of this, so do we!

Praising God today for his magnificent love for his children!