The Joy of Glory

Ezekiel 36:22–27 (click here)
“…It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name…

…And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

…I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:22-23, and 27)

Reflection
I am so thankful that the Lord’s commitment to me is not based on my faithfulness to glorify his name… but his. Our triune God will uphold his holiness before the world. The Father will glorify his Son and the Son will glorify his Father… in and through the Holy Spirit. Our triune God will not fail in his commitment to his own glory!

This is gospel good news!

It is gospel good news because God is committed to do this through you… and through me… through his people. Before a watching world, he will vindicate his holiness. How?

The prophet Ezekiel was shown a coming day when the Lord would put his very Spirit within his people to empower them to walk in his ways… reflect his holiness… live for his glory. That day has dawned through the death and resurrection of Jesus!

The same Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in you to empower you to live a resurrected life (Rom 8:11)! God is at work in you, by his Spirit, transforming and conforming you to look more and more like Christ (Rom 8:29 and 2 Cor 3:18)!

Of course this work is not yet complete… it has only begun, but God promises that the day is coming when he will bring it to completion (Phil 1:6). The day that dawned with Christ’s resurrection will soon shine with the full brightness of his return (Rev 1:16)! And on that day, the name of the Lord will be upheld as holy before all creation, and that will happen through you!

Glory of glories! Gospel good news!

God will glorify himself through you! Could our life have any greater purpose? Could there be any greater joy?

No! For there is nothing greater, nothing more joy giving than God… and he is giving himself to us that he may be glorified through us! Maximum glory and maximum joy forever! And we get a foretaste now! His Spirit is at work in you now… today… to make you more like Jesus, shine forth more of his glory, and find more joy in him.

Hear, believe, and celebrate the Gospel good news… TODAY God has put his Spirit in you for the glory of his name and for your joy… forever!

 
*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.