The Joy of Glory

Joel 2:17 (click here)
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, “Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” (Joel 2:17)

Reflection
Why should God have mercy on me?

That is not a question we typically ask… and why would we? I mean, of course, God should have mercy on me! I’m pretty special after all. Don’t I deserve a little mercy? Doesn’t everybody?

All too often we put ourselves at the center of the universe, expecting God to do the same. And, if he doesn’t revolve around us… if he shows us anything other than mercy and grace… then he needs to justify his actions to us! This is why people object to biblical pictures of judgment. How dare God judge humanity! Who does he think he is? He must answer to us!

Yet, the assumption of the entire Bible is exactly the opposite! God is at the center of the universe. We revolve around him. We must answer to him… and we have much to answer for.

In fact, Scripture’s honest assessment of rebellious humanity is that there is actually NO reason in mankind that God should have mercy on us… but there is a reason in HIM!

This is why the prophet Joel calls the priests to pray for God to have mercy on his people, not because they deserve it, but because of who God himself is! He is their covenant God who rules and reigns over all. And if the nations conquer them… then perhaps the nations will profane God’s name saying, “Where is their God?”

So Joel calls the priests to pray for mercy, not because the people deserve it, but because God deserves to not have his name profaned!

Is this how we pray? God show us your mercy, your goodness, your grace… so that all may see the greatness of your name! This is why he saved us… to the praise of his glorious grace (Ephesians 1:5-6)!

And wonder of wonders… this is actually where we will find our greatest joy! Our ultimate joy is not found in God revolving around us, but in us revolving around him! It is only in glorifying him, lifting him high that we will find full, forever joy!

Why should God have mercy on me? For his glory!… and that is my joy!

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

Ezekiel 14:21-23 (click here)
…you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 14:23b)

Reflection
The wrath of God is one of the hardest truth pills for modern people to swallow. Yet, the Bible is filled with images, pronouncements, and actual outpourings of God’s wrath. Ezekiel 14 is just one more example among the pages of the Bible.

For many people, this is a hurdle they simply cannot get over. How could Christians possibly proclaim a God of love who seems to be filled with so much rage? How could such a God ever be good, great, beautiful or glorious?

What are to make of such questions when they rumble around within our own souls?

Ezekiel 14:23 helps to bring a little bit of clarity to the questions with which our hearts are wrestling. God tells his people that after his judgment has been poured out on Jerusalem, he will work to help them see his wrath from his perspective. They “shall know” that he has not judged without cause. In other words, they will be able to see that his wrath was the right and righteous response to sin.

Too often, we think of God’s wrath in the same way we experience our own wrath… as a type of blind-rage that is simply flying off the handle, but it is not so with God. His wrath is a perfectly calculated, right response to sin. And, his wrath is working for good and righteous ends!

Our world is filled with so much injustice and evil… and it is the wrath of God that executes justice on injustice… it is the wrath of God that removes evil. We cry out of God’s wrath any time we cry for God to set all wrongs right… to make all things new… to overcome evil and usher in his kingdom!

One day, we will see the wrath of God totally from his perspective and we “shall know” that none of it has been poured out without cause! All of it has actually come out of a place of love for his people and his creation!

We will see that God has poured out his wrath to right all wrongs, execute perfect justice, and make all things new!

The wrath of God actually gives us hope that this world will not always be broken… that wickedness will not win… that all suffering will come to an end!

The wrath of God actually is part of the good news!

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

Jeremiah 32:32-35 (click here)
They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction. (Jeremiah 32:33)

Reflection
When is the last time God spoke to you?

Can you remember it? Can you recall what he said and how it felt to hear him speak? For many people, these questions cause feelings of doubt and despair because they feel as though all they receive from the Lord is silence.

But is that true? Is God silent… or are we not listening?

In Jeremiah 32, God says that he has taught his people persistently, but they have not listened. What does he mean? His voice has not boomed from the heavens. None of these people had encountered a burnish bush, an angelic messenger, or seen ignored signs in the sky.

So how had he been speaking? The answer is not flashy. The answer is rather plain. God had been consistently speaking to his people through his Word. The priests taught the Word and the Prophets proclaimed the Word. God spoke constantly to his people through his Word, but they turned their back to him, not their face, by ignoring his Word.

God still speaks through his Word. You can hear his voice right now! Pick up the Scriptures, read and hear the very voice of God! God is persistently speaking to you through his Word written and his Word proclaimed!

All too often we turn our backs to the Word because that is not the WAY we want him to speak to us. It’s not flashy enough… it is too plain. We desire a mystical experience like a burning bush, an angelic messenger, or a sign in the sky.

We’re like Naaman, who was told that to cure his leprosy he need only to dip seven times in the river Jordan. In his pride, he almost missed out on healing because he wanted to be given a great task that emphasized his own greatness. To bathe in the Jordan would take humble obedience that placed all emphasis and glory on the gracious power of God.

We have told that hearing from God persistently happens through bathing in his Word. Such an act does not make us look grand and super-spiritual, like having awesome mystical experiences would. No… such an act requires humble obedience and places all emphasis and glory on the graciousness of God to speak to us through his Word.

Don’t turn your back to the Lord! Hear his voice today by turning your face towards his Word. He is persistently speaking to you.

Are you listening?

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