imported_rachel
06-08-2007, 09:59 AM
In the message "Dedicate His Temple" we saw that through the
forgiveness of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are
now God's Temple; "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's
Temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (1 Corinthians
3:16). And as with the Temple during the reign of King Solomon, we
are to dedicate ourselves for worship and be filled with His glory (2
Chronicles 5:13-14).
The glory of the Lord first appeared to the people of Israel after
they were led out of Egypt; "They looked toward the desert, and there
was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud" (Exodus
16:10). Then, when Moses was called up Mount Sinai to receive the
law, the glory of the Lord settled over the mountain; "To the
Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire" (Exodus
24:17).
When Moses came down from the mountain, "his face was radiant because
he had spoken with the Lord" (Exodus 34:29). The presence of God did
not cause Moses' face to simply shine with a joyful glow, it beamed
with a fear-causing glory; "When Aaron and all the Israelites saw
Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him"
(Exodus 34:30). After Moses spoke to the people, he "put a veil over
his face" (Exodus 34:33) to ease their fear as well as cover the fact
that "the radiance was fading away" (2 Corinthians 3:13).
These examples of God's glory give us a sense of awe. God's glory
reflects His character - His majesty, holiness, and awesome
power. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are now God's Temple and
"ministers of a new covenant" (2 Corinthians 3:6). We are no longer
like Moses who had to cover his face with a veil. Jesus has removed
the veil and we can boldly reflect His glory into a lost and dying
world.
2 Corinthians 3:18
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are
being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory."
When we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we begin to reflect
the glory of the Lord from within as we are transformed into the
image of Christ. This transformation produces a glory which is
intended to increase for the rest of our days. We will never attain
the full likeness of Christ until we join Him in Heaven; but, with
every step along God's path, we become more and more like His
Son. And as the radiant-blocking "self" is slowly removed, we are
better able to reflect His glory.
We must continue down His path. We must take daily steps toward a
life which reflects the glory of the Lord into the darkness that
surrounds us. Heavenly Father, we pray for the strength to more
fully surrender and reflect You into this world with an ever-increasing
glory.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive07.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm
forgiveness of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are
now God's Temple; "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's
Temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (1 Corinthians
3:16). And as with the Temple during the reign of King Solomon, we
are to dedicate ourselves for worship and be filled with His glory (2
Chronicles 5:13-14).
The glory of the Lord first appeared to the people of Israel after
they were led out of Egypt; "They looked toward the desert, and there
was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud" (Exodus
16:10). Then, when Moses was called up Mount Sinai to receive the
law, the glory of the Lord settled over the mountain; "To the
Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire" (Exodus
24:17).
When Moses came down from the mountain, "his face was radiant because
he had spoken with the Lord" (Exodus 34:29). The presence of God did
not cause Moses' face to simply shine with a joyful glow, it beamed
with a fear-causing glory; "When Aaron and all the Israelites saw
Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him"
(Exodus 34:30). After Moses spoke to the people, he "put a veil over
his face" (Exodus 34:33) to ease their fear as well as cover the fact
that "the radiance was fading away" (2 Corinthians 3:13).
These examples of God's glory give us a sense of awe. God's glory
reflects His character - His majesty, holiness, and awesome
power. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are now God's Temple and
"ministers of a new covenant" (2 Corinthians 3:6). We are no longer
like Moses who had to cover his face with a veil. Jesus has removed
the veil and we can boldly reflect His glory into a lost and dying
world.
2 Corinthians 3:18
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are
being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory."
When we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we begin to reflect
the glory of the Lord from within as we are transformed into the
image of Christ. This transformation produces a glory which is
intended to increase for the rest of our days. We will never attain
the full likeness of Christ until we join Him in Heaven; but, with
every step along God's path, we become more and more like His
Son. And as the radiant-blocking "self" is slowly removed, we are
better able to reflect His glory.
We must continue down His path. We must take daily steps toward a
life which reflects the glory of the Lord into the darkness that
surrounds us. Heavenly Father, we pray for the strength to more
fully surrender and reflect You into this world with an ever-increasing
glory.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive07.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm