What does real glory look like to you?
Robbie sees glory in the crimson reflection of the sun on the horizon at sunset. She’ll say, “Look at that! It’s beautiful. Isn’t that glorious.”
The mighty Red Coat band lights up Sanford Stadium with “Glory, Glory to Old Georgia” every time the Bulldogs take the field on a cool Autumn afternoon.
Many say that glory is rooting the home team on to victory and championship.
Others see glory in a new-born baby’s face resting peacefully in its mother’s arms.
Some see glory in a 14-point buck passing under their deer stand.
Stadiums rock in the glory of a game winning home run.
I know people who relish seeing the glory of a 12-pound bass mounted on the wall, or a well-groomed front yard, or a classic car spit-polished to perfection.
What does glory look like to you?
Let me tell you what glory looks like to Jesus, “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as WE are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as you have loved Me. Father I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:22-24). Glory to Jesus looks like you and me.
Can you believe that?
Jesus is the glory of God before the foundation of the world. He not only knows what glory looks like; He is God’s glory. He puts His glory in us, His children. Every time we come together to worship. Every time we bow our heads and pray, “Thine is the glory…” Every time we love our neighbor, give a cup of cold water, join in singing with other believers— “To God Be the Glory, great things He has done,” Jesus says, “Look at that. Listen to them. Now, that’s what glory looks like.”
When Israel was making its way through the wilderness toward the Promised Land, God showed up in the camp every night in a Pillar of Fire. Here’s how Moses described it, “The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, form before the people” (Exodus 13:21-22).
This is the same glory which descended on Mt. Sinai when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It’s the same glory which the prophet Elisha saw descending from heaven to swish Elijah away in a “…whirlwind to heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). I believe it is the same glory which the disciples saw cover the face of Jesus, his clothes and everything before them on the Mount of Transfiguration. These hard, weather-worn, outdoor rugged men were so awe-struck they fell on their faces at the site of such glory.
Think about this - we do not just see and feel God’s glory, WE HAVE BECOME GOD’S GLORY. That’s what today’s sermon is about. Glory is not something you admire and get all goose-bumpy about. Glory is not something to feel nostalgic over or look forward to when you get old and gray-headed. Glory is now. Glory has been given over, transferred, passed on to you and me through the prayer which Jesus prayed in John, chapter 17. Glory is not what we will become someday. It is who we are right now. So, my word for you today is –
Robbie sees glory in the crimson reflection of the sun on the horizon at sunset. She’ll say, “Look at that! It’s beautiful. Isn’t that glorious.”
The mighty Red Coat band lights up Sanford Stadium with “Glory, Glory to Old Georgia” every time the Bulldogs take the field on a cool Autumn afternoon.
Many say that glory is rooting the home team on to victory and championship.
Others see glory in a new-born baby’s face resting peacefully in its mother’s arms.
Some see glory in a 14-point buck passing under their deer stand.
Stadiums rock in the glory of a game winning home run.
I know people who relish seeing the glory of a 12-pound bass mounted on the wall, or a well-groomed front yard, or a classic car spit-polished to perfection.
What does glory look like to you?
Let me tell you what glory looks like to Jesus, “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as WE are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as you have loved Me. Father I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:22-24). Glory to Jesus looks like you and me.
Can you believe that?
Jesus is the glory of God before the foundation of the world. He not only knows what glory looks like; He is God’s glory. He puts His glory in us, His children. Every time we come together to worship. Every time we bow our heads and pray, “Thine is the glory…” Every time we love our neighbor, give a cup of cold water, join in singing with other believers— “To God Be the Glory, great things He has done,” Jesus says, “Look at that. Listen to them. Now, that’s what glory looks like.”
When Israel was making its way through the wilderness toward the Promised Land, God showed up in the camp every night in a Pillar of Fire. Here’s how Moses described it, “The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, form before the people” (Exodus 13:21-22).
This is the same glory which descended on Mt. Sinai when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It’s the same glory which the prophet Elisha saw descending from heaven to swish Elijah away in a “…whirlwind to heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). I believe it is the same glory which the disciples saw cover the face of Jesus, his clothes and everything before them on the Mount of Transfiguration. These hard, weather-worn, outdoor rugged men were so awe-struck they fell on their faces at the site of such glory.
Think about this - we do not just see and feel God’s glory, WE HAVE BECOME GOD’S GLORY. That’s what today’s sermon is about. Glory is not something you admire and get all goose-bumpy about. Glory is not something to feel nostalgic over or look forward to when you get old and gray-headed. Glory is now. Glory has been given over, transferred, passed on to you and me through the prayer which Jesus prayed in John, chapter 17. Glory is not what we will become someday. It is who we are right now. So, my word for you today is –
BE GOD’S GLORY!
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