9 November 2023 - The Glory of the Lord will shine upon you

The glory of God is indescribable. God wants to shine in our difficult times, and He wants us to shine for His glory.

Isaiah 43:6b-7(NIV) “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

In these verses, God issues a call to gather His children - every individual who bears His Name. He reveals His purpose in verse 7: whom I created for my glory. God created you for glory. But not your glory. His glory. God created you to be a dwelling place for His glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31(NIV) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

All of God’s creation is to be absorbed with putting the glory of God on display

Numbers 6:24-26(NKJV) “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

Isaiah 60:1-5(AMPC) “Arise ! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you , and His glory shall be seen on you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms. Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.

Hebrews 1:3(NIV) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

What does it mean to radiate God’s glory? The word radiance is apaugasma in the Greek, and it means radiance; a light flashing forth; to beam forth, gleam. The word glory is doxa in the Greek­, and it means opinion, hence praise, honour, glory. Thus, the author is communicating that Jesus shines forth or radiates what is praiseworthy, honourable, and glorious about God.

2 Corinthians 3:18(NASB) But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

In the same way Jesus radiates or reflects the glory of God, we are being transformed by the power of the Spirit into the same image, from one degree of glory to another.