Tag: The Glory of God

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The Applause of God

Daily Reading

Isaiah 31-35

Daily Thought

“Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isaiah 33:14). Isaiah calls out against the godless, announcing judgment upon the nations. God is a consuming fire; his way is “the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it” (Isaiah 35:8). Isaiah appears a prophet of doom, but his question, “Who among us,” has an answer.  

He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
who despises the gain of oppressions,
who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe,
who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed
and shuts his eyes from looking on evil (Isaiah 33:15). 

Isaiah, prophet of doom, is a proclaimer of hope, “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22). He speaks of a people who walk with God, fight oppression, pursue righteousness. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). Isaiah summons a people of God to reflect God’s glory. 

There was a concert at the shopping plaza down the street. The band played songs by Journey. Remember Journey? “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want,” “Wheel in the Sky.” I closed my eyes and could hear Steve Perry on lead vocals. Except it was not Steve Perry. It was a guy imitating Steve Perry, and he sounded a lot like him. A LOT like him. They were reflecting Journey’s glory and they were good. I thought to myself, what if the real Journey band was in the audience listening to their songs being performed by this band? I bet they would have loved them. I bet they would have clapped. I bet they would have said, “Well done!” (Matthew 25:23).

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). 

When we reflect the glory of God, we perform and God is applauded. 

Daily Prayer

Father God, when I think of Your Son, how He lived and how He died and how He rose again, I see a picture of You. He is the image, the perfect image of the invisible God. When we see Jesus, we see the Father, we see You. Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

May I be an imitator of You, as well, so that when people see me, they see what You are like. I won’t be perfect, but I will aim for it. You began the work in me, and I trust You will continue it daily. May I love like You love, forgive as You forgive, seek Your righteousness and Your ways, and follow Your steps wherever You lead. And may I live in such a way that You are forever and always praised.

Amen

Daily Question

What are some examples of God’s glory being displayed in your actions?

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Let There Be Light

Daily Reading

2Corinthians 1-4

Daily Thought

Light remedies darkness, and in the beginning “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). But there is another kind of darkness, a darkness in the heart of humanity, for “people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). Our world is veiled in darkness, explains Paul, because “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” (2Corinthians 4:4).

Paul remembers how the face of Moses shone when he descended from Mt. Sinai, “because he had been talking with God” (Exodus 34:29). Moses had been on the mountain forty days and forty nights, and so bright was the glory on his face that he wore a veil to dim the glow. “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed,” writes Paul, “and we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2Corinthians 3:16, 18). 

When I was a kid, my brother and I would shut our bedroom door and turn out the lights and play catch with a rubber, glow-in-the-dark ball. The longer we held the ball near the light, the longer and brighter it would shine in the darkness.

“You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:14, 16

God’s answer is still, “Let there be light.”

Daily Prayer

My God, Your light shines in this dark world and reveals what is good and pure and right. May my life be a reflection of Your glory. May my life shine in such a way that people know I have been in Your presence. May Your church do Your works in this world so that You are known and loved and followed.

Amen

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The Songs We Sing

Daily Reading

Judges 8-9

Daily Thought

God delivers the Israelites from slavery to Egypt and Moses breaks out in song. Thirty-two verses begin with, “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!” (Deuteronomy 32). God destroys the Canaanites in Judges 4, and Judges 5 is another song, this time by Deborah and Barak, “Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the Lord I will sing; I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.” God is great. God is good! But the next time, nothing. A mighty victory over the Midianites in Judges 7. Turn the page and nary a note. The songs we sing, or don’t sing, matter. There is one fleeting reference to God from Gideon, but rather than praise, it was an excuse to duck the anger of Ephraim. The Ephraimites accosted Gideon for not including them in the fight, but Gideon dodged, “God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb” (Judges 8:3). This isn’t praise, it’s blame. God was in charge. Talk to him about it.

It matters what songs we sing, and don’t. Instead of praising God, the Israelites want to make Gideon king. To his credit, Gideon responds with a rare word of wisdom, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you” (Judges 8:23). But I will take your gold, thank you. Gideon proclaimed, “One nation under God,” but his actions speak louder. When leaders prefer the gold of the people to the goodness of God, there can be no surprise at the outcome; “the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals” (Judges 8:33).

Daily Prayer

Sovereign God, Maker of everything. Your Son, King of kings, Firstborn over all creation. You hold all things together. You not only made the planets, the stars, the suns, and the moons, You determined their path. Silly people worship the created rather than the Creator.

God, may I always keep You in my thoughts. May I always allow You to determine my steps. God, may I have the wisdom it takes to hear Your voice, know Your thoughts, follow Your lead.

Amen