By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Memory of the month: And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" —Luke 24:32
Today's reading: 1 SAMUEL 4-6 LUKE 9:1-17
His Glory In Us
We cannot read 1 Samuel, chapters 4, 5, 6 and not sense something awesomely powerful. The army of Israel is defeated and the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistine army. The Ark is first taken to a city called Ashdod and placed in their temple alongside their god Dagon. The next morning their Dagon statue was on its face before the Ark. This an inanimate figure that the Bible says, in many places, has no breath, cannot think-in other words is worthless. But, it is moved by the power of God-knocked down before His presence by His power. The idol is put back in place but the next morning was knocked down again with its head and hands removed and placed on the threshold of their temple. The people were infected with growths like tumors.
Their people in Gath requested them to send it to them thinking they could handle it. It infected them, too, and they decided to send it back where it came from with offerings and sacrifices before 'it kills us all'. 1 Samuel 5:11
They put the ark and some gold figurines in a cart pulled by two milk cows and turned it loose and the cows went straight to a Jewish town called Beth-shemesh where the people were ecstatic to see the ark and immediately made sacrifices to God. But, 75 people then died for looking into the Ark.
The power of God is not to be taken for granted or trifled with.
Where is all that power today. It has not changed, has it?
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Psalm 119:90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
God never changes. His Holy Spirit is with us and in us.
1 Corinthians 6:19 ►Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Can we deny that God is with us and in us? No
Can we deny that His same power that knocked down the idol of Dagon and inflicted suffering on so many is still the same today? No
Can we deny the power of the resurrection of Christ Jesus? No
Do we deny the power it took to save our souls and remain constant in us all the time? No
The glory of the Lord is ours because He says it is-not for our own glory but His. He leads us for His namesake, Psalm 23.
Today, will you sense His glory? Will you live in His complete peace and bask in His mercies?
It is time for us to humble ourselves under His hand and experience His glory in our lives. It is in us and around us. We need not be concerned about what the world throws at us or what to say to anyone in the world. The Lord will give us words.
Luke 12:12 The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them.
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV "Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The Glory of the Lord travels with us wherever we go. Whatever happens to this 'tent' we live in, God will never abandon His temple-our souls. We must live conscious of His heart for us and know He never sleeps-never turns away.
Psalm 121:4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
My prayer is that we all learn to walk in His glory, consciously aware of His glorious presence every minute. It is as real now as it ever was and will be forever.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
Forgive me my ignoring Your Glory in and around me and depending on my own strength. Let me see You and hear You and feel You, oh great and mighty God.
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