The classical example of a person whose life is completely changed after seeing the glory of God is Paul. He was going to Damascus to arrest the Christians when a bright light shone on him. The light is the glory of God when Jesus spoke to him. His life was completely changed after that. Instead of persecuting the Christians, he went to the synagogues preaching that Christ is the Son of God.
A. We will be like Christ.
2 Cor 3 : 18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” A preacher’s commentary reads: “Once you get this revelation of God’ glory – of his love, mercy, grace, longsuffering and readiness to forgive (humility) – the Holy Spirit will continually open your eyes to more of these aspects of his nature and character. You’ll have an ever-increasing revelation of God, in the way he wants to be known to you!”
We cannot see the face of God. When Moses asked to see God’s face, God replied, “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (33: 20). However, we can see His glory. The constant beholding of His glory transforms us from one degree of glory to another. We have earlier said that the glory of God is the very nature and attributes of God.
In Ex 34: 5 – 7, God showed Moses His glory – “And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him (Moses), and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin …”
B. We will worship God.
When Moses saw God’s glory, he “made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.” (Exodus 34: 8)
When Moses saw God’s glory, he “made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.” (Exodus 34: 8)
The revelation of God’s nature overwhelmed Moses. He responded by worshiping God. It’s important to note that this is the first mention ever of Moses worshiping. Prior to this revelation of God’s glory, we find Moses praying and interceding, weeping and pleading with God for Israel, talking with him face to face. We hear him singing the Lord’s praises on the victory side of the Red Sea. We hear him calling on the Lord at the bitter waters of Marah. And we hear his desperate cry to God at Rephidim, when the people were ready to stone him for not providing water. But this is the first time we read the words, “Moses worshiped.”
Prayer, Praise and Worship are the Christians’ spiritual duties. The 3 elements are intertwined, yet they are distinctively unique. Prayer is a part of worship; praise is also a part of worship. However, Christians can pray and praise God but not worship.
Worship is the most unique spiritual exercise of the Christians. It is totally different from the worship of the other religions. In Christianity, worship is a spontaneous outbreak of the heart in gratitude that is overwhelmed by the revelation of God’s glory and his incredible love for us – “I’m sinful and yet He loves me.”
Worship is not just on Sunday - a once a week affair but it is a daily affair, a consciousness of God’s love, mercy, kindness and grace.
C. We will witness a change in our relationship with others
A right relationship with God will inevitably bring about a right relationship with men. When we have seen God’s glory, our relationship with others will change. Jesus summarized the 10 commandments in the NT, calling them the first and the second commandments – “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matt 22: 37 – 39)
A right relationship with God will inevitably bring about a right relationship with men. When we have seen God’s glory, our relationship with others will change. Jesus summarized the 10 commandments in the NT, calling them the first and the second commandments – “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matt 22: 37 – 39)
In Matthew 18, Jesus illustrated with a story. He speaks of a servant who was forgiven of a great debt by a king. The king showed this man incredible kindness, grace and forgiveness. Yet no sooner was the servant forgiven then he found a fellow servant who owed him a small debt. He demanded payment and when this friend fellow servant asked for time, he began choking the debtor until he paid up. The very one who had experienced great love and forgiveness showed no mercy in return!
This story teaches us to exercise mercy to others because God has exercised His mercy on us. Paul states this truth in clarity – “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ep 4: 31 – 32) A commentator says, “God is telling us through Paul, You’ve seen my glory, and you know my nature and character – that I’m gracious, merciful, longsuffering, ready to forgive. Now, I want you to express to others who I am!”
No comments:
Post a Comment