In Pursuit of His Glory

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 12:30pm

In Pursuit of His glory

     I am now taking the summer off from ministry. I hear the words of Jesus, “Let go and come aside to a quiet place and rest awhile (Mark 6:31). This time of rest will enable me to come away just to be with Him (Mark 3:145).  Jesus is always present; but we are not always present with Him. It’s all about relationship. Even in the darkest depths of prison or upon the highest mountain, we can be aware of His life giving presence. The result is fullness of joy (1 John 1:3-4).

 As King David declared, “He who abides in the secret place shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1). This place of abiding (fellowship) places us under the canopy of His manifest glory. Just as the glory of God was upon Israel as a cloud by day and a fire by night, His glory is here to rest upon His people.

   The prayer of Jesus on the eve of His crucifixion is for the same glory that the Father gave to Him, would also rest upon us. It is this glory that Jesus said, enables us to be one with Him and with the Father (John 17:22). The heart of Jesus is for us to abide in His glory, the glory that units us with Him and with one another.

   The apostle Paul ask, “If the ministration of the law written in stone was glorious, so that the face of Moses shone with God’s glory, how much more shall not the ministration of the Spirit be even more glorious (2 Cor. 3:6-8)? So I ask, “Where is God’s glory, the inheritance that is ours in Christ?

 

Staying the Course

   This new season requires greater discipline and focus. Because of distractions and a busy schedule, we can easily be drawn away from the life that is ours in Christ. Without a close walk with Jesus, all else that we do is just works for Him. Kingdom fruit comes from being present with Him doing His works through Him. It is from the place of abiding in His glory, that releases the power of transformation, the result of His Presence working in our midst.

     I am not into “counting nickels and noses” but seeking the manifest glory of the presence of the King. Moses understood as a leader of God’s people, that you could lead in obedience to the Lord’s direction and purpose, and still be void of God’s manifest presence. Thus, Moses pleaded with the Lord, “Do not lead us forward unless your presence goes with us” (Exodus 33:15). It’s all about His glory.

      Thus, during this summer, it is my intent to draw nearer to the Lord, be re-ignited with fire to burn brightly with the light, life and love of His presence. It’s time to awaken with a greater devotion and dedication to my first love, to rise and shine with the glorious light of His presence.

   The commission of every believer is to “Rise and shine for His light HAS COME, and His glory HAS RISEN upon you (Is. 60:1). Notice that this scripture places God in the now moment of our lives. As the “I AM” He is ever present. He is here and He lives among His people, “For it is Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

 

A Matter of the Heart

It is in the secret place of the Most High, that God perfects and purges the areas of our lives that we may bear more fruit and shine more brightly. God is more interested in the man than the ministry. He is also more interested in our interaction with Him, than our prophecies.

  It’s matter of the heart. Our heart is the seat of His love and Godly affection.

   As we set our affections upon Him, (Colossians 3:1-3) through the resurrection power of Christ, our spirit is able to soar into heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). As we partake of His living presence we are filled to overflowing with the love and light of God. As Peter shared, we are partakes of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

   Of course, God’s glory is not for our own pleasure, but also the gift that keeps on giving to others. The call is to let the love of God be shed abroad in our heart (as a beacon of light) by the Holy Spirit given to us (Romans 5:5). Jesus gave us the command to let our light shine that others may know and see Him. His love will touch the lives of others with the Spirit freely given to us.

 While many are waiting for the glory of God to come, God is waiting for His people to rise and shine with the light of His glory. As the prophet Isaiah foresaw, those who rise and shine, God’s glory will become visible upon the face of God’s people. It is this light that will attract the nations to come and partake of the light of your rising. They in turn, will ignite cities and nations with the fire of His presence.

 It’s all about Lord Jesus, the love of our life and His love that imparts life.

Have a great-blessed summer. In His heart with love.

Roy Roden