The Joy of Glory

Jeremiah 50:1-4 (click here)
Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: “Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.” (Jeremiah 50:2)

Reflection
Jeremiah prophesied amidst the height of the Babylonian empire. As the supreme world power, Babylon ruled with an iron fist. None who opposed her could stand.

I imagine that to be alive at the time, it would seem that Babylon would last forever. Yet, at that very point in history, God spoke through the prophet declaring the destruction of Babylon with all its gods as if it were taking place at that very moment.

On God’s timeline, Babylon was a blip, and all it’s power a barely noticeable mark.

This is true of all earthly kingdoms.

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?… He who sits in the heavens laughs…” (Psalm 2:1, 4)

Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome… these empires form the backdrop of Biblical history…each seemingly as permanent as the one before it…yet not a single one of these empires exists today. Their remains are merely tourist destinations. They lie in ruins.

Yet, God’s throne has not moved.

Such truth is a rod iron for our spine amidst troubled and dark days (which all have been since the fall of mankind). We look at current kingdoms, governments, and nations, as if they will last forever and their trajectory will determine the outcome of history.

“He who sits in the heavens laughs…”

There is only one who is in control… only one whose kingdom is forever… only one… Jesus.

Trust not, hope not in any kingdom of this world… and do not despair because of any kingdom in this world.

You are a citizen of the only kingdom that will last forever and your king holds every moment past, every second of the present, and all of eternity that lies ahead.

Trust in the King of kings…Jesus.

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Isaiah 53 (click here)
…he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2b)

Reflection
Do you desire Jesus?

I hope the answer to that question is a resounding, “YES!” …but…the real question is, “Why do you desire Jesus?”

It surprises most people to find learn that Scripture describes Jesus as being average looking… just a normal guy. Most paintings and films portray him quite differently, as the ideal physical, male specimen.

Yet, God ensured that there would be nothing about Jesus’ outward appearance that would cause people to desire him. They needed to want Jesus for Jesus…and not for some other surface, superficial reason.

Today, we may not be able to look upon Jesus’ physical appearance, but people still want Jesus for all sorts of surface, superficial reasons.

Many people “desire” Jesus because of things they believe they can get from him. They think, “Jesus will bless me financially, or relationally, or with good health.” At the end of the day, they don’t really desire Jesus…he is just a means to something else. Jesus is “majestic” or “beautiful” to them for all sorts of materialistic reasons.

But the true majesty and beauty of Jesus isn’t because of WHAT he can get us…it’s because of WHO he is! Therefore, even if I lose wealth, health and relationships…I still gain as long as I have Jesus!

He may not appear majestic or beautiful by the world’s standards, but there will truly never be one of greater majesty and beauty than Jesus Christ!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here. 

John 1:32-34 (click here)
“…I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:34)

Reflection
Let’s do a little Greek grammar for just a moment. I promise it’ll be worth it.

There are various verb tenses in Greek, just like in English (although they don’t work in exactly the same way). The tense we need to know about is the perfect tense. When a verb is in the perfect tense it is basically speaking of action that happened in the past that still has ramifications in the present.

So if I said, “I fell in love with Holly,” and the word “fell” was in the perfect tense…it would basically mean “I fell in love with Holly and therefore I am now in love with her.”

In John 1:34, the verbs “seen” and “witness” are both in the perfect tense. So John the Baptist is saying, “I have seen and therefore am still seeing/knowing that Jesus is the Son of God.” “I have born witness and therefore am still bearing witness that Jesus is the Son of God.”

In other words, seeing the truth about who Jesus is has permanently changed everything for John! He’s been talking about it and can’t stop talking about it!

This is true for all who truly see Jesus as the greatest treasure ever…the very Son of God. That’s the kind of thing you cannot un-see, and it has ramifications for the rest of your life!

You came to know Jesus is the past, but that still has ramifications for the present, namely, we keep on speaking about Jesus…the Son of God.

The church has been speaking of him for 2000 years, we are speaking of him now, and will continue to proclaim his praise forever!

We have seen and borne witness to Jesus, and therefore we are still seeing and still declaring Jesus the glory of Jesus…the only Son of God!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.