WE BEHELD HIS GLORY!

WE BEHELD HIS GLORY!

John 1:14

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Matt 17:1-3

17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Those of us who make it a habit to be at church will admit that occasionally the ritual and routine bursts into true worship. When worship truly happens we behold his glory although not as fully as did Peter, James and John. On those grand occasions God seems closer and more majestic than ordinary days. We want to save as well as savor these moments and we strive to reproduce and recreate the experience.

Beholding His glory is extraordinary and therefore can challenge normal reasoning. Peter wanted to build permanent structures, monuments if you will, to every glorious person he beheld!

Matt 17:4

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

We shouldn’t chide Peter so much because what he experienced was so marvelous that he simply did not want to return to his former mundane existence. He did not want to descend the mountain. He wanted to stay, enveloped in the splendor of the moment. We sympathize with Peter on this point.

What Peter, James and John saw was a preview of heaven! Their spirits, made raw by this breach in the veil, recognized Moses and Elijah even though they had been gone for many years. Jesus himself was no longer the carpenter that led them. He was the Lord of Glory. His face did shine like the sun.

If we read further in Matthew chapter 17 we see that God broke the spell of that splendor so that they could return to their work in the valley. There the lunatic was healed and Jesus foretold his death and resurrection. Later Peter would cast an angle and catch a fish in order to pay taxes for himself and Jesus. Somehow, after the vision of the Glory, none of it seemed so farfetched as before.

Dear Lord, show us enough of your glory today to make the mundane things marvelous. AMEN

A SAFE PLACE!

A SAFE PLACE!

2 Sam 22:2-3

2 And he said, The Lord  is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

2 Sam 22:31

31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord  is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

          I’m looking at a book on my shelf which I bought for two reasons. The first is its title, Someplace Safe with Somebody Good! The second reason I bought this book is its author, Jan Karon. I’ve read, I think, every book that Jan Karon has written except this newest one. I haven’t yet read this one for two reasons. One, I want to save it for a special time when I can read it uninterrupted. Two, I can read faster than Jan can write. But, isn’t the title intriguing?

          God is my rock!  A rock reminds us of strength and stability, that which is dependable and unchanging. No matter how David's enemies tried to destroy him, he was always guided and protected by the Lord. The buckler and shield are from the same Hebrew word. It is a small round shield held by a handle or worn on the forearm. It was used in hand-to-hand combat. When the enemy is closest, God is a strong shield.

          God is my horn! Figuratively, the horn is a symbol of power. Great bulls use their horns as weapons when fighting. The Hebrew word is sometimes also translated hill. Every military strategist understands the importance of the high ground. So the word has a double meaning. God is my high ground and power in battle. The idea of the high tower conjures up the same idea. Sometimes these towers were rock structures and were stationary but on the battlefield others were made of wood and were on a wheeled platform so that the commanders might observe the battle and shot arrows down at the enemy.

          His way is perfect! David had come to trust the Lord’s ways. Pure mind makes no mistakes. Nothing escapes his overview. David’s trust was not a blind following because he says that God’s word is tried. David had tested God’s abilities in the fire of conflict and had found no blemish or weakness.

          Someplace safe with Somebody good! Such is the happy condition of those who put their trust in the Lord.

Dear Lord, I feel safe when you are leading. I doubt to trust my own resources. Lead clearly and protect strongly today. AMEN

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

John 14:25-26

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Since Jesus went back to His Father, believers have had given to them the indwelling Holy Spirit, also known as the Comforter. Among His many duties is the personal care of Christians. If you have ever wondered to yourself “where did THAT come from?” then you probably have experienced the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life.

What are some of the evidences of the Holy Spirit working in the Christian?

1. WHEN YOU HAVE PEACE IN THE MIDST OF GRIEF!

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When the tears begin to dry and your soul begins to calm; when all around you there is no discernible reason to be at peace; that’s when you say to yourself: “Where did THAT come from?”

2. WHEN YOU HAVE JOY IN THE MIDST OF TRIAL!

Hab 3:17-18

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

When a song begins in your heart and continues through the clamor; when your soul begins to celebrate in the midst of crushing defeat; that’s when you say to yourself: “Where did THAT come from?”

3. WHEN YOU FIND WISDOM THAT CAN’T BE YOUR OWN!

Luke 12:11-12

11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

When your counsel to others is full of wisdom beyond your years or training; when the choices you make are beyond your level of maturity; when you find yourself the leader when you would rather follow; that’s when you say to yourself: “Where did THAT come from?”

2 Cor 1:3-5

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

God of wisdom and comfort, thank you for the companionship of your own Holy Spirit. AMEN