THE GLORY OF GOD'S PRESENCE

I Was Just Thinking About – THE GLORY OF GOD'S PRESENCE

The Worship Service began yesterday with the Congregation singing beautifully and movingly the words written by Steven Lee Fry:

Oh, the glory of Your presence

We Your temple

Give You reverence.

Come and rise from Your rest

And be blessed by our praise

As we glory in Your embrace,

As Your presence

Now fills this place.

In reflection, two passages of God’s Word direct complete focus upon God and His Glory:

Psalm 24:7-8 – “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!”

I Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

In today’s devotional: Get More Strength For The Journey, Joseph Stowell reflects on God’s Glory:  “God’s glory is the manifestation of all that He is in His unsurpassed, stunning perfection. It is His amazing love, His wide mercy, His deep grace. His glory is seen in His truth, justice, wisdom, and power. To glorify Him means that we have the high privilege of showing Him off in a world that is totally unaware of what He is really like. Acts of mercy to the undeserving, grace to the needy, forgiveness to an offender, living wisely according to His will—all give glorious visibility to the character and quality of our God.”  This should cause us to remember that: “The chief end of mankind is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” 

In II Corinthians 6:16, the Apostle Paul asks and answers a vital question that should impact us all: “What agreement can exist between the Temple of God and idols? For we are the Temple of the living God.”

When Solomon’s Temple was completed and the Ark of the Covenant was carried into it, I Kings 8:10-11 states: “And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.”

Question: If we are the Temple of the Living God today, shouldn’t His Glory be evident in it and radiate from it? Is that happening in the lives of professing Christians today? What is our reasonable excuse – reason – if that isn’t taking place? Could it mean that some are not taking a serious God seriously?

Prayerfully – Consider these things with me!