Day Fifty Six: Proclaiming God's Glory in the Midst of A Storm
I have been thinking a lot about the National Day of Prayer's verse. I shared it on yesterday's blog. I agree that God's glory should be proclaimed throughout the land. The "sticking point" for me, and I listened to President Trump's speech, and the others that shared yesterday, is that they are missing the point. Maybe it's just me, but I'm still sensing some arrogance. This is dangerous.
We need to start thinking that we're not going to get through this together without God. This is critically important in the midst of a storm. We can thank those who set things in motion. We can also praise the actions, but we must not put anyone on a pedestal. I'm sensing that now. I am praying that God will use this time to return us back to him. I am also praying that his will be done. I admit that this is a hard thing for me. I can't speak for you. The things that are currently happening in our state and in other blue states is deeply disturbing to say the least. We need God to intervene, if he is willing to do so or help us accept the new normal.
I truly believe that one day soon that we'll see a glimpse of his glory. Psalms 72:19(KJV) is a good verse to let your mind linger on. It reads: "And blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." We have to understand something here. It is in his name and his alone that we live. I was a bit concerned (I didn't listen to the whole broadcast) when I heard one of the speakers talk about a Hindu deity. It was a brief soundbite, so you may have missed it. Isaiah 42:8(KJV) states clearly that "I am the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."
Why is this important? Does God have many names? It's important because even though God is called by many names he is the ultimate authority over every living thing. It's also important because people have been led astray to worship false gods. Some have mocked and taken the Lord's name in vain, thinking that it's unimportant. I admit when I was younger I did it, but the Lord has forgiven me. What is the reward for doing this? The rewards are boundless. Isaiah 58:8(KJV) shows us one benefit. It reads: "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward." I don't know about you, but having the glory of the Lord shine on me is great news. Isaiah 60:1(KJV) tells us to "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." We are a light in the darkness. So when we proclaim God's glory in the midst of a storm, we are like a lighthouse to those who are flailing in the dark.
Jesus when he was with Martha, who questioned why he stayed away, said this: "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, that thou shouldest see the glory of God?" Jesus then brought her brother Lazarus back from the dead. It was all part of God's plan, just like what's currently happening now is part of his plan. The evil is being exposed. We are seeing it, but there are many that are still blind. Jesus had to fulfill his mission to bring those who are called to himself and to God. The raising of Lazarus was a sign of God's glory and his coming victory over sin and death. John 17:4-5(KJV) states this clearly when Jesus says: "I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
It does have to be understood that not everyone will accept this. In fact many will reject it, because they prefer the darkness. They have excuses and reasons why they can't accept God's will in their lives. They can't fathom God's glory because they haven't seen it in their lives. Romans 3:23(KJV) says that "for all have sinned, and some short of the glory of God." None of us can understand this because our hearts have been darkened and shut out to it. Yet it is critical, especially in the midst of the storm, that we gain that understanding. It is as Romans 11:36(KJV) says "for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to who be glory for ever. Amen." Everything is in his hands. If we truly believe that, then we can actively give everything over to him. Yes, I know the temptation to hold onto the material stuff that we entangled ourselves in. I succumbed to it on many occasions. This current situation has increased that temptation, I admit. I know that I must "whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, all in the glory of God."
I know that he's working a marvelous thing in my life, and in the lives of the people I love. Ephesians 1:17-21(KJV) helps me focus on the One who centers me...the Lord Jesus Christ. It reads: "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the world, but also in the world to come."
This is the whole message. When we proclaim God's glory we are showing the world his mighty power. It was a mystery, and to some it is still a mystery. I read in Colossians 1:27(KJV) "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." I am glad that God included us. May he be glorified through all the earth!
We need to start thinking that we're not going to get through this together without God. This is critically important in the midst of a storm. We can thank those who set things in motion. We can also praise the actions, but we must not put anyone on a pedestal. I'm sensing that now. I am praying that God will use this time to return us back to him. I am also praying that his will be done. I admit that this is a hard thing for me. I can't speak for you. The things that are currently happening in our state and in other blue states is deeply disturbing to say the least. We need God to intervene, if he is willing to do so or help us accept the new normal.
I truly believe that one day soon that we'll see a glimpse of his glory. Psalms 72:19(KJV) is a good verse to let your mind linger on. It reads: "And blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." We have to understand something here. It is in his name and his alone that we live. I was a bit concerned (I didn't listen to the whole broadcast) when I heard one of the speakers talk about a Hindu deity. It was a brief soundbite, so you may have missed it. Isaiah 42:8(KJV) states clearly that "I am the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."
Why is this important? Does God have many names? It's important because even though God is called by many names he is the ultimate authority over every living thing. It's also important because people have been led astray to worship false gods. Some have mocked and taken the Lord's name in vain, thinking that it's unimportant. I admit when I was younger I did it, but the Lord has forgiven me. What is the reward for doing this? The rewards are boundless. Isaiah 58:8(KJV) shows us one benefit. It reads: "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward." I don't know about you, but having the glory of the Lord shine on me is great news. Isaiah 60:1(KJV) tells us to "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." We are a light in the darkness. So when we proclaim God's glory in the midst of a storm, we are like a lighthouse to those who are flailing in the dark.
Jesus when he was with Martha, who questioned why he stayed away, said this: "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, that thou shouldest see the glory of God?" Jesus then brought her brother Lazarus back from the dead. It was all part of God's plan, just like what's currently happening now is part of his plan. The evil is being exposed. We are seeing it, but there are many that are still blind. Jesus had to fulfill his mission to bring those who are called to himself and to God. The raising of Lazarus was a sign of God's glory and his coming victory over sin and death. John 17:4-5(KJV) states this clearly when Jesus says: "I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
It does have to be understood that not everyone will accept this. In fact many will reject it, because they prefer the darkness. They have excuses and reasons why they can't accept God's will in their lives. They can't fathom God's glory because they haven't seen it in their lives. Romans 3:23(KJV) says that "for all have sinned, and some short of the glory of God." None of us can understand this because our hearts have been darkened and shut out to it. Yet it is critical, especially in the midst of the storm, that we gain that understanding. It is as Romans 11:36(KJV) says "for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to who be glory for ever. Amen." Everything is in his hands. If we truly believe that, then we can actively give everything over to him. Yes, I know the temptation to hold onto the material stuff that we entangled ourselves in. I succumbed to it on many occasions. This current situation has increased that temptation, I admit. I know that I must "whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, all in the glory of God."
I know that he's working a marvelous thing in my life, and in the lives of the people I love. Ephesians 1:17-21(KJV) helps me focus on the One who centers me...the Lord Jesus Christ. It reads: "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the world, but also in the world to come."
This is the whole message. When we proclaim God's glory we are showing the world his mighty power. It was a mystery, and to some it is still a mystery. I read in Colossians 1:27(KJV) "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." I am glad that God included us. May he be glorified through all the earth!
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