The Northern Lights. Blog by John Emanuel
The Glory of God is a key theme that is present throughout the Bible. We have the Glory of God reflected from creation right through to the future hope of the Glory in the Kingdom to come.
“The heavens declare the Glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”
“For the Glory of God gives it light”
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”
To start with, the Old Testament has many references of giving glory to God associated with worship, praise and honour. However, it goes further than this and we have strong themes of God dwelling with man and the Glory of God strongly connected to the presence of God with Moses:
On Mt Sinai (Exodus 24 verses 16-17; Exodus 33 verses 18 & 22)
In the Tabernacle (Exodus 40 verse 34)
and the Temple (2 Chronicles 7 verses 1-3)
There is a progression in the New Testament as it reveals to us the Glory of God in the life of Jesus. This Glory of God brings us salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his Glory, Glory as the only Son from the Father.”
Throughout Jesus’ life there are many examples that we can look to that show us his Glory from his birth to his death and resurrection. The Gospels give us many positive examples through his signs and miracles and also in his preparation for death. However, there is also included in the temptations in the wilderness, the warning for us not to trust in our own glory - man’s glory. In Jesus’s preparation for the cross, we see his desire of us to be fruitful and show glorify God in John 15 verse 8.
So how do we reflect this Glory both in our minds and our bodies as we have been saved at a high price through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
So we should shine in the lives that we live and give bountifully to the Lord, that we should proclaim the Gospel not only through confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord but also through the example of the lives we are called to live in response.
“In their case 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, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
“Whatever we do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Photo by Johannes Groll on Unsplash