Created for God's Glory

Can you imagine? We are created “for God’s Glory!”  What an awesome thought ... that God made us so that His Glory might be manifested! 

Isaiah 43:5-7 tells us that God is gathering His children from the four corners of the earth “for His Glory.”  Read it with me,

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
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, (emphasis mine)
whom I formed and made.”

Yes, this is speaking directly to the Israelites, but don’t forget that we who have Jesus as our Savior have been adopted into God’s family (John 1:12).  So, I feel privileged to claim this promise from God.

1 Corinthians 2:5-10 reads,
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. (emphasis mine)

Did you get that, in Christ, our eyes have been opened ... our ears have been cleared ... our minds have been given the privilege to conceive the glory of God!  Wow!

 

If this is true then, why do we have so much trouble relating to God?  Why do we struggle with this awesome concept of God's Glory?  We are His ... Jesus made us so when we placed our faith and trust in Him ... we should be able "to know Him and believe Him."  I mean to really know Him and really believe Him.  Then why is it such a struggle? 

 

A lot of Christian ladies have studied this with Beth Moore and she says that we have such a struggle because there are barriers which we have created in our lives which hinder us.  As Christians, we have "strongholds" which make us blind, deaf and dumb to glory of God and only a renewal of spirit will correct this. 

 

Years ago, Chuck Swindoll told the story of a traveler who came upon a huge boulder in his path that literally blocked his way forward.  The traveler had three choices: 1) turn around and go back; 2) find another route around the boulder; or, 3) take the time to chip away at the boulder until it would crack and crumble making the way clear for the traveler.  With the first two choices, the boulder would still be there.  Dr. Swindoll said that there was but one right choice for the traveler.

And, there is but one right choice for the Christian who, in travelling through this life, is hindered by some spiritual stronghold ... destroy it!

 

OK ... so why do we still struggle.  Its because we don't take hold of the power of the Holy Spirit to destroy those strongholds. There is but one power which we have been given which is capable of destroying the strongholds.  It is the Holy Spirit, very God, who resides in every believer and He is waiting patiently for us to ask. 

 

Personally, I have struggled with several strongholds for so many years that I am worn out.  I have given them over to God, but then when faced with the reality of a very difficult task of removal, I take them back.  Sounds pretty stupid, but that's a fact.  After 70+ years of life, I am weary of this struggle and at my wit's end.  I am ready to turn it all over to God.

 

I want to see God ... I want to see Him high and lifted up.  I want Him to send an angel from His throne with a hot coal to sear my lying lips.  I want Him to remove all those thoughts which keep me captive.  I want Him to surgically open my heart and remove all the drab and dross, every sin which hinders me from reaching that glorious calling for which He has created for me.

 

I have been challenged in my heart to "go all the way" with God.  It seems to me that the day has come where many followers of Christ around the world are on a fast track to be all that God wants them to be.  The hour of decision is upon us and we are challenged by God to trust Him, to allow Him to remove all the barriers which keep us down.  Satan wants nothing more than to laugh at you and me for our failure.  However, God is greater than all our failures ... in Christ we have defeated Satan.

 

Would you join me on a new journey of "boulder busting" and let Satan know that "we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us." (Romans 8:37)

 

Let me pray for each of us:  Holy and glorious Father, I come to You as the almighty God; the eternal One who, by Your grace and mercy, has saved us through Your magnificent Son, Jesus.  Father, I pray not only for myself but for all who read these words and have decided to join me in this quest of fulfilling our calling by being all that you have created us to be.

Holy Spirit, move in our lives in power as we submit each and every stronghold and every barrier which has prevented us from striving to be those who reveal Your glory.  Help us to walk with You in paths which will both honor our God and restore our faith, once delivered to us.

May this all be to the glory and honor of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior, Amen!

The Authentic Attractiveness of My Church?

What would a stranger say about my church if he or she spent an hour or so on any given Sunday morning visiting with us?  More important would be the question, what would they have to say about our faith in God?

Having had the privilege of visiting and serving in numerous churches over the past number of years, I can say that the majority of Christ followers are attempting to be “authentic.”  Still, it is a systemic problem in the church that those who are visiting are made to feel lonely in a crowd.  I have intentionally stood in the entry area of churches, both large and small, which I have visited while having a questioning look on my face only to be ignored by people who are hurriedly moving about toward one place or another for who knows the reason.

During His short ministry on earth, though Jesus was often in a crowd of people, He was always looking for that one person who needed Him.  As recorded in Luke 8:45, in the account of the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years, when she touched Jesus’ robe, He knew it immediately.  He then said, “Who touched me?”

I am afraid that we are much like Peter who questioned Jesus’ insight … “it could be anyone who touched you.”  Peter was focused on the forest instead of the trees.  And like him, we too have other lesser things on our minds … “gotta get to _________ (you fill in the blank).”  For Jesus, was anything more important than stopping to meet the need of someone along the way?  No!  As for that woman, she was healed immediately.

Years ago, a certain missionary was visiting our church.  Having been asked to speak to us, he told of a meeting in a small mission church in the area he was serving.  The indigenous pastor of that little church was late, in fact very late for the meeting.  When he finally arrived, two hours late, his reason was that he had met someone along the road with whom he stopped to visit.  This missionary was impacted by the care that pastor had for others. I must ask myself, what impact will I have on someone else who I encounter along my way?  Isn’t it time for me to show the care of Jesus to others whom I don’t know that just might need a caring new friend?

On those occasional church visits previously mentioned, there were men and women at the door who proudly wore “greeter” badges.  Their mantra always seemed to be, “Good morning; or, nice to see you; or, welcome.”  It seems that they were really glad to be standing there because they almost always wore a smile.  Still, unless I took the initiative and asked a question, that greeting was all that I got.

When I go to visit someone in their home, after ringing the bell, the door opens, I am greeted with a smile and hand-shake, invited in, offered a chair, and, maybe a glass of water.  Why shouldn’t the church be a similar inviting place?  Why shouldn’t we all be like Jesus who did more than just say “welcome?”   He always was looking for an opportunity and, in fact, we are told that, with a crowd all around, He looked up in a tree and found a man named Zachaeus.  That encounter changed Zachaeus’ life.  And, that’s just what He wants to do through us … we are to look for opportunities that just might change peoples’ lives.

My suggestion is that my church, the people with whom I’ve chosen to walk, would begin to slow down and, as it is sometimes said, “stop and smell the roses!”  A rose is a beautiful yet fragile flower which when handled with care gives great joy.  So it is with people … people whom we have yet to meet … people who may be in need and could use a little of Jesus through you and me.  How many people do you and I see on any given Sunday morning who we don’t know?  Stop … introduce yourself … make a new friend.  Just maybe you will be used to change a life for Jesus’ sake.  If anything, this attitude, which was also in Jesus, will change your own life!