Solomon,
king of Israel, spent a fortune to build a Temple in Jerusalem. From
the mount it stood out visible for miles. The walls of white stone
gleamed, the gates of polished bronze shone. It’s splendor made it a
wonder of the ancient world. But, it was not architecture that was the
greater glory of that building. It was the Presence that filled it. At
the dedication, Solomon prayed for the Lord to come and be among His
people. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven
and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the
LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the
LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites
saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple,
they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they
worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “He is good; his love
endures forever.”(2 Chronicles 7:1-3, NIV)
The “glory” of which this passage speaks is the Presence of God, His indescribable Radiance. Though He is an invisible God, those who were gathered that day felt Him and the only appropriate response was to fall down in worship.
The “glory” of which this passage speaks is the Presence of God, His indescribable Radiance. Though He is an invisible God, those who were gathered that day felt Him and the only appropriate response was to fall down in worship.
Today, God does not inhabit buildings or holy places. He lives in us, His temples. "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16, NIV)
Christians, you and I, are given the awesome privilege of carrying the Lord’s glory wherever we are, whatever we are doing. It is not us, but the One in us, that is magnificent. Even more wonderful is that fact that where His Presence goes, there is joy. My desire is to be a temple prepared for His Presence, a person marked by His radiance. How about you, Christian?
What spills over from you? What fills your thoughts, your dreams, your days? It’s not a silly question because whoever we are on the inside will become what we are in our world. Jesus said that "the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.’" (Matthew 15:18, NIV)
When the Spirit fills us, the beauty of His Presence will spill over from us.
Christians, you and I, are given the awesome privilege of carrying the Lord’s glory wherever we are, whatever we are doing. It is not us, but the One in us, that is magnificent. Even more wonderful is that fact that where His Presence goes, there is joy. My desire is to be a temple prepared for His Presence, a person marked by His radiance. How about you, Christian?
What spills over from you? What fills your thoughts, your dreams, your days? It’s not a silly question because whoever we are on the inside will become what we are in our world. Jesus said that "the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.’" (Matthew 15:18, NIV)
When the Spirit fills us, the beauty of His Presence will spill over from us.
Invite
Him to fill you up! Yes, we participate in this process. As He comes to
live in us, He points out attitudes, actions, and choices with which He
will not share space in our lives. He asks for access to every part of
our lives - our past and present, our resources, our pleasures, and our
personality. Some think He steals from us, robbing us of our creativity.
Exactly the opposite is true! Where He makes holy, He also make whole.
In that wholeness we become the amazing creatures He designed. The
Spirit-filled life is a thing of beauty very different from the
religiousness that some practice in the Name of Christ.
Ponder this word from the Word. Pray, “come, Holy Spirit.”
May the Radiance shine from deep inside of you.
May the Radiance shine from deep inside of you.
"So
our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as
the Lord’s Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord... The
god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They
cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ,
who shows what God is like.... The Scriptures say, “God commanded light
to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know
that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ. We are like clay jars in which
this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us."
(2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:4,6-7, CEV)
(2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:4,6-7, CEV)
_________
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.
Has thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see thy cross; there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find.
Teach me to feel that thou art always nigh;
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
- George Croly, public domain
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