Glory Be To God

Posted on by korgrocker

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offence to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.”
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 NLT

In Christ, we are free. Jesus said that in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free”. A bit later on in John’s Gospel, Jesus also said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10). However, there are several considerations that have so far emerged in the 1 Corinthians letter, as we enjoy the freedom we have been granted in our “rich and satisfying life”. 

The first is that everything we do should be done with God in mind. For the Corinthians, this initially focused on food offered to idols, but Paul expanded this to include everything we are involved in, adding a catch-all. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul wrote, “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything”. This can be true in several ways, as we are adept at forming habits, which can be both beneficial and detrimental. Because of sin, bad habits often prevail, and we must be vigilant to avoid falling into this trap.  

Another consideration is the impact our behaviour has on other believers. Paul particularly highlighted offending Jews and Gentiles, something very sensitive in those days, because the church in Corinth would have had people from both backgrounds in the church there. In modern churches here in the UK, there is no longer the same issue, but we must still be aware of other sensitivities. In the church I attend, there are several lovely Nigerian families, but their culture is very different to mine, and because of that, I have to be very sensitive to their backgrounds. 

Yet another consideration concerns offending the church of God. This is very easy to do, as we mix with other fellowship groups, movements and denominations. There are a plethora of beliefs in Christianity, and some are deeply cherished by their adherents. I used to live near a family with cessationist beliefs that clashed with my own continuationist beliefs, and care had to be adopted as we discussed the things of God. And then there are differences in liturgies and even versions of the Bible, with some Christians including the books of the Apocrypha in their churches, even though most don’t, something that can perhaps cause a conflict in theology.

So Paul’s approach was to try his best to please everyone. But in many ways, this was something that Paul wasn’t very good at, if the physical abuse he suffered is anything to go by. The overriding factor for Paul was the phrase, “I do what is best for others so that many may be saved”. The sad thing was that most people in the Mediterranean lands, as is the case today throughout the world, have a different view of what is best for them. People generally prefer to live their sinful lives without anyone pointing out to them the eternal consequences of such a choice. And so believers will experience pushbacks from the very people who would benefit from their message of the Good News about Christ.

Today, it is the behaviour of Christians that speaks the loudest to the unbelievers in our society. There is an old saying, “Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words”, and although only partly true, this has a point. A common objection heard from those invited to attend a church service is that the congregation there is full of hypocrites. A sad indictment, which unfortunately can be true. But Jesus said, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16). Paul wrote about the connection between our salvation and good works in Ephesians 2:9-10, “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”. It is a fact that in the UK, most charities have a Christian influence, as the good deeds being performed by Christians demonstrate their faith in God.

But in all that we do, we do it for the glory of God. This includes not only our good deeds but also the way we conduct our lives. Paul wrote, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). A believer who lives their life trusting in God will shine like a beacon in a world that is lost and dying. They will be a beacon that will shine with God’s glory everywhere.

Dear Heavenly Father. Please help us shine for You today, so that Your glory is reflected everywhere we go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

He Delights in Me

Posted on by korgrocker

“He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.”
Psalm 18:17-19 NLT

David considered his circumstances and marvelled at the way God had rescued him from the attacks of his “powerful enemies”. Not only did the Lord support him , but He led him to “a place of safety” and all because “He delights in [him]”. The Amplified version interprets Psalm 18:19 as, “He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me because He was pleased with me and delighted in me”. What an amazing accolade, to say that God is pleased with someone. But how would we know? We might have a personal impression that God “delights in” us but the thing about divine accolades is surely that the Heavenly beneficence is public. But the only way that people will know that God delights in us is in the way we behave. There will be no neon lights in the sky proclaiming God’s pleasure with Joe Bloggs or anyone else. A Heavenly light display such as that was retained for God’s own Son at His birth – “Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, … Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,” (Luke 2:9, 13). But there was another time when a voice from Heaven proclaimed how pleased God was with His Son, as we read in Luke 3:22 at the occasion of Jesus’ baptism, “and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”” 

But today God’s pleasure with someone can be seen publicly in the way they behave. A contentious thought perhaps, but one that many people overlook. For example, if a Christian looks miserable, are they demonstrating God’s pleasure with them? If a believer makes comments that are negative how does that fit in with God’s favour? We pilgrims are God’s testimony of grace and His love to a wayward and evil generation, and our demeanours must reflect that. I was once walking through a pedestrian tunnel under the River Thames in London with many people coming towards me, hurrying to work, and I was struck by the staring, fixed and sad looks on most of the faces I could see. Faces displaying a lack of God’s blessing and favour. Faces trapped in a world of sin and without hope for the future. I was reminded once again that God wants us pilgrims to reach out with messages of Good News, which start with first impressions. Are we smiling or does our facial expressions mirror those of the people around us?

In Psalm 5:12 we read, “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield”. I suppose it goes without saying, that God has no incentive or need to bless an unrighteous person, although such people are included in His blessings, as we read in Matthew 4:45b, “ … He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous”. That is God’s grace in operation. But to fully appreciate God’s beneficence, we need to acknowledge Him and believe in Him, something that the worldly people around us fail to do.

For a believer, the reality is that God will delight in us as we follow His ways. He is with us every step we take, cheering us on when the going gets tough, encouraging us when adversity strikes, blessing us with provision for our needs. But if we feel that God’s favour has left us, then we return to the Cross where we touch base once again with our Saviour, Jesus. Only He has the words of eternal life. Only He can bring hope to the hopeless and favour to the lost.

Dear Father God. With grateful hearts we praise and worship You today for all Your Heavenly favours. It’s all about You and Your glory, and we humbly bow before You today, conscious of all that You have done for us. Amen.

Your Majestic Name

Posted on by korgrocker

“O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.”
“O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”
Psalm 8:1-2, 9 NLT

Momentous words start and end this Psalm. David, musing with his “stringed instrument” is overwhelmed with thoughts of God’s majesty, and how the whole earth reflects it. The dictionary definition of “majesty“, of “sovereign power”, doesn’t really do justice to the majesty of God. An earthly king or queen may be referred to as “your majesty” but their human bounds put them far below the majesty of God. In the presence of the UK’s King Charles, we can refer to him as “your majesty” but we have to be there with him to do so. But David’s majestic Lord is everywhere, and as we look around us we see His majesty displayed for all to see. The skies and clouds. The celestial objects. And around us we see God’s earthly creation everywhere we look. The plants and animals, human beings populating the world. David was correct when he said “Your majestic name fills the earth”. 

David also wrote about the glory of God. We can never adequately define God’s glory, because it encompasses all that he is, and we can never get our human minds around it. His beauty, His Spirit, His creative power, His … The list goes on and on. And David again correctly wrote that God’s glory extends far beyond all that we see, because God is all and is in all. 

Majesty and glory surpassing what our minds can encompass. We can never get close to God and really know who He is. Dr S M Lockridge wrote this: “Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing“.

We only have to look up and gaze in wonder at the heavens above us to get a glimpse of the majesty of God. His glory can be seen in the myriad of celestial bodies that lighten the night sky, and the most powerful telescopes known to mankind have not reached the limits of what God has achieved. But closer to home we have been loved and blessed without limit by our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus. Fellow pilgrim, do we know Him? Really know Him? If not, like David we can sit back and muse on our majestic God. Let us set aside the thoughts and cares of life, and instead shift our focus heavenwards, and, as the old song says, “the things of earth will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”.

Dear Heavenly Father. We lift our hands to You in worship today, basking in Your love and grace, and proclaiming Your majesty and glory, with grateful hearts. Amen.

The Glory

Posted on by korgrocker

“I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.”
John 17:4-5 NLT

“Glory” is not a word often used in secular language. It might perhaps be associated with an outstanding sportsperson, or used to describe a beautiful sunset. But in that latter natural phenomenon, seen in our created world, we perhaps get a hint of the glory of God. In the spiritual world that we have yet to experience in all its fullness, the glory we will see will be breathtaking in its beauty. Words are incapable of describing the glory of God though, because how can a mind limited by its humanity ever be able to describe the fullness of God in all His glory? 

The glory of God is all of who He is. His attributes, His character, His love and grace, His … the list is endless. And we will spend eternity in His presence never fully able to plumb the depths of God’s glory. But in the here and now, no human being will ever be able to see God’s glory. That demands a capability totally beyond us. But that didn’t stop Moses from asking. Exodus 33:18, “Then Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory!””. God’s response was, “ … “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. …  But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live”” (Exodus 33:19-20). 

How could God ever reveal His glory but at the same time, emphasise its magnitude and importance in a way so significant that human beings can get a glimpse of it? In the Old Testament, this often happened with fire and smoke, earthquakes and other natural phenomenon. Today we have to look a bit harder, but God’s glory can still be found. This morning I watched the sun rise and the colours, the different shades of pink, were breathtaking and moved me to praise our wonderful Creator God. As an aside, I always feel sorry for atheists, because they see such beauty but have no one to thank for it. They get a glimpse of God’s glory but fail to understand what it portrays. 

Jesus prayed that His Father would “bring [Him] into the glory [they] shared before the world began”. How could a human being pray such a prayer, unless He was also divine. And there is now in Heaven a Human Being, sharing in the glory of God. One day we too will find ourselves in, what the Christians of a bygone era called, “glory”. If that doesn’t bring some excitement to this war-torn world, then nothing will. 

Dear Father God. We sing the hymn, “Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory, thou o’er death hast won”. Our words cannot fully express the glory for which You are due, but please accept our feeble attempts. Amen.

The Time Has Come

Posted on by korgrocker

“As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once.”
John 13:31-32 NLT

The exit of Judas from that upper room, where Jesus had been sharing the Passover meal with His disciples, started a train of events that have had profound and eternal consequences for the human race. Most of the Jewish nation lived outside Jerusalem and they wouldn’t have known much about what was going to happen over the next few hours. But Jesus did, and He told His disciples that “the time has come”. By saying that He was going to “enter into His glory“, Jesus told His disciples that he was about to return to be with His Father in Heaven. Many old songs, like Woody Guthrie’s “This Train”, refer to Heaven as Glory. But the glory of God is His perfection, in all the attributes we recognise such as His love, grace, mercy, holiness, and many more qualities besides. And Jesus was returning to His Heavenly home to be a part of it. John recorded in His Gospel, “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (John 1:14). Those who had lived with Jesus during His ministry years had discovered the perfection that John called His glory. Through Jesus they received a glimpse of the glory of God. 

Jesus’ time on Planet Earth was coming to an end. The glorious climax of God’s rescue plan for mankind, through Jesus’ sacrificial and unjust death on a cross at Calvary. Redemption from the consequences of sin for all who believed in Jesus and repented of their sins. A pivotal moment that changed the course of history. “The time has come”. 

I looked out of my office window as I was writing this, to see the heavy and dark clouds, full of water and thundery menace, briefly part and expose a small patch of blue sky. Most of our fellow members in society are living under permanent clouds of doom-laden peril, unaware that they have an opportunity to look up and see the glory of God. Their clouds of sin can be parted in an instant by the simple act of repentance and belief that Jesus’ time two thousand years ago provided an opportunity to join God in His glory one day sooner than they think. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, “As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvellous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation“. But most people in the secular West prefer to live in permanent doom, under clouds of sin, rather than move house into a world of light, saved for eternity.

Who do we pilgrims know today, someone who needs to look up and accept that “the time has come” for them? A loved one, a workplace or school colleague? We pray for just the right opportunity to show whoever it is that glimpse of Heaven up through the clouds. The place where God’s glory can be seen. 

Father God, as we look to the future and the paradise awaiting us, we thank You and ask for Your help in our daily lives as we continue our journey. Please help us too encourage others to join us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Voice From Heaven

Posted on by korgrocker

“Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.”
John 12:28-30 NLT

‭‭If we hear a sound that seems a bit strange or one that we don’t recognise, we try to find its source, don’t we? For example, I remember many years ago of an unexpected loud crashing noise that occurred one evening, from the direction of the shed in our back garden. Several of the neighbours heard it as well and some ran to the adjacent main road, expecting to see the remains of a car crash. But there was a nagging thought in my mind – in my shed were a number of jars located on a shelf I had erected the previous day. And my fears were realised when I later took a look – the shelf had collapsed. I was too embarrassed to tell the neighbours of my shoddy craftsmanship. But there is always an explanation for a sound – well, that is, until God is involved.

But here we are imagining ourselves in a crowd listening to a Man speaking about some religious matters, joining other people who were in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. There was a crowd standing around a Man called Jesus, who had performed an amazing miracle raising a man from the dead. As we watched, this Man lifted His face to Heaven and we heard Him cry out “Father, bring glory to Your name”. And then we clearly heard what seemed to be a voice from the sky above us. The voice said, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” We looked up but could see nothing, but there were a few clouds there. Some around us were saying that it was a clap of thunder. Others who obviously heard some words thought an angel had spoken. But the Man called Jesus then spoke to the crowd again. He said, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.” Thunder, an angel, or God Himself? What if it was the voice of God, responding to this Man who claimed to be His Son?

How would we feel if we suddenly heard a voice from Heaven? I think we can agree that this is not a common occurrence, and we would be more likely to look for a source more mundane or logically viable. But in the crowd, the voice from Heaven was loud enough to be confused with thunder, so to hear something of equal loudness today would be perplexing. That is, unless we were open to such an event as the voice of God speaking loudly to us. Have we pilgrims ever heard God speak to us? There was an occasion during my daughter’s illness when I was crying out to God in prayer. I was at the time rushing to her hospital bed, summoned by the medics who were fearful that she was in her last moments. But in the middle of my prayerful anguish, I head a voice clearly coming from the back seat of the car, saying “Trust Me”. It was so clear that I turned around to see who was there. God was with me that day, and through His loving kindness and compassion, I received strength and the assurance for the difficult days ahead. I will never forget His voice.

The people in the crowd were faced with a choice. If someone before them was having a conversation with someone else in Heaven, surely they would, or should, have taken notice and attributed some divine meaning to what was happening. But many in the crowd chose not to, rather trying to rationalise the situation with a natural conclusion, and in the process they missed a golden opportunity to connect with God Himself. Jesus said that all those who believed in Him would inherit eternal life, and God is still in the process of speaking to people today. The offer still stands in this season of grace.

Dear Father God. Thank You for Your patience with us humans. We love You and thank You that we can hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us. Amen.

The Glory of God

Posted on by korgrocker

“Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ‘Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”
John 11:38-41 NIVUK

We human beings are natural beings living in a natural world. We see with our eyes and hear with our ears. We taste, feel and smell. But there are many things in this world that we cannot experience with our senses. Take the air around us, for example. We know it is there, but we cannot appreciate it with any of our senses. We cannot appreciate another person’s thoughts or see their inner turmoil with our natural senses. Concepts and theories are real but beyond our physical abilities to experience. Of course, the scientists and technologists invent devices to enhance our natural abilities but there remain huge gaps in our knowledge. In John 3:8 Jesus said to Nicodemus, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit”. How can a natural body invade the spiritual realm and sense what is there?

God’s glory is not something we can measure because it is the fullness of who He is. In Exodus 33:18, we read about a question from Moses,  “Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’” God’s reply was, “And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no-one may see me and live’” (Exodus 33:19-20). 

Jesus reminded Martha that earlier He had told her that she would see the glory of God. We remember that He said to her, “ … I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? ” (John 11:25-26). God’s glory is His ultimate and perfect goodness and an experience of it will change our lives. There was a time of natural instability and Isaiah did what many do at such times – he went to church. There he experienced God in a way that changed his life. He received a vision that we can read in Isaiah 6. “It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke” (Isaiah 6:1-4). The glory of the Lord filled that place and Isaiah was never the same again.

Martha’s life was never the same again. She was about to experience the glory of the Lord in a very personal way. We don’t know anything about the rest of her life, but we can be sure that it was never the same again. Perhaps we pilgrims long for such a time when we too will experience at first hand the glory of the Lord. But we look up into Heavenly places and see the Lord there, and He smiles at us. One day we will be with the Lord sharing with others the glory of the Lord. And we will say and sing with them, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honour and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased” (Revelation 4:11).

Father God. We give You all the glory today for all You have done for us through Jesus. We worship You today. Amen.


Jesus’s Glory

Posted on by korgrocker

“This, the first of His signs (attesting miracles), Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory [displaying His deity and His great power openly], and His disciples believed [confidently] in Him [as the Messiah—they adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Him]. After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.”
John 2:11-12 AMP

From the day He was conceived, Jesus had a latent glory. This had to be so, because He was the Son of God, after all.  The Amplified version of John 2:11 explains His glory as “displaying His deity and His great power openly”. But Jesus’ first miracle at Cana wasn’t some conjuring trick, as perhaps some people thought. It must have created quite a buzz, particularly to those in the know, such as the servants who were involved as the miracle developed and unfolded before them. The disciples must have looked on in amazement. But for them this probably confirmed to them that this was no ordinary rabbi – this was the Messiah Himself. And as the events of the next three years played out, they were more and more convinced that God had indeed come to live with His people.

The disciples, we are told in John’s account, believed confidently in Him as the Messiah. They trusted Him, and relied on Him. And they followed Him closely for the next three years, being taught the fundamental truths of the Kingdom of God. Step by step, parable by parable, miracle by miracle. Day after day on a whirlwind training course heading for their graduation on the day of Pentecost. That was when the believing was enhanced by the doing. As Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:12-14). That was the reality of life for the disciples – the potential of doing great things for God in Jesus’ name. 

We pilgrims must wonder sometimes if Jesus’ glory ended on a Roman cross, and after He returned to Heaven. It would have done if it wasn’t for the gift of the Holy Spirit that He gave to mankind. Have we received the transforming power of the Holy Spirit? Have we used this power in Jesus’ name to see great works? If not we only have to ask. Jesus said, “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him”(Matthew 7:11). The gift of the Holy Spirit is there for the asking. And through the Holy Spirit’s power we can propagate the glory of Jesus to those around us.

Dear Father God. Thank You for the plan for the salvation of mankind, a plan that involved Your Son Jesus. We worship You today. Amen.