Glorify the Son



"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." 
-1 Cor. 1:31

John 17:1 says, "Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You."  John 17 records one of the longest prayers in the Bible, and it is the prayer that Jesus prayed shortly before His arrest and crucifixion.  Within this passage, we are given a glimpse into His heart as He prays for Himself and for those who place their faith in Him.  It is interesting that the first thing He mentions is the glory that belongs to both He and the Father.  Think about all the Jesus has done in order to make redemption a reality--He laid His glory aside, came into this world, and He gave His life as a ransom for many.  Paul writes in Philippians 2 that Jesus became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  For that reason, God has highly exalted Him and has given Him a name which is above every name.  That's glory!  The cross was not about the glory of man; the cross was all about the glory of God.  You and I are not to look back at the cross with some sense of pride in who we are or what we have done.  The cross should invoke a humility in my heart that resonates the glory of God.  The reason that you and I live and breathe is to glorify the Son.  1 Corinthians 1:31 says, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."  Obsession with the glory of God is the passion that fuels the believer's worship.

"Lord Jesus, may You alone be glorified!  May Your name be lifted high above every other name!  I pray that everything I say today, everything I think today, and everything I do today would bring glory and honor to my King."

The Promise of His Presence



Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you."  These words were given to the children of Israel just as they were about to cross over into the Promised Land.  Moses was about to die, and Joshua was preparing to lead the nation.  Keep in mind that the land was filled with giants and many seemingly impossible and impassible obstacles.  They would be tempted to cave in to fear and retreat, but Moses reassures them of the One who would be with them and go before them.  They had been given the promise of God's presence, and He would not leave them nor would He forsake them.  The promise of God's presence is something that Christians can cling to.  Think about it--nothing is too difficult to face when we know that God is with us.  I once read where John Wesley, while upon his deathbed, said these last words: "Best of all, God is with us."  With his last breath, Wesley repeated that which had been most precious to him in life--the presence of God.  Compare that to the last words of the athiest Voltaire, who said, "I am abandoned by God and men!"  That's an interesting contrast, don't you think?  Yet, this is the difference that is made in the person's life who possesses the promise of God's presence.  Pause and reflect today on the precious promise of God's presence with the believer.

Father, I cling to the precious promise of Your presence with me!  I thank you that it is a reality that has been made possible through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus.  Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Friend who sticks closer than a brother, the One who will never leave me nor forsake me."

The God Who Knows

Psalm 142:3 says, "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Your knew my path."  One of the wonderful attributes of God is His perfect omniscience.  That simply means that God has perfect knowledge of everything.  There is nothing in the universe that is hidden from His all-seeing eyes and perfect mind.  From the most intricate details of life to the mysteries of the universe, our God is the God who knows.  There is absolutely nothing that escapes His knowledge.  In fact, He knows me better than I know me!  In His omniscience, He orders the steps of the righteous.  David well understood this as he wrote in Psalm 142.  By way of context, keep in mind that David wrote this psalm while he was hiding in a cave from Saul and the men who were persuing him.  It was a difficult time in David's life, yet it didn't take God by surprise.  The Lord knew exactly where David was the whole time, and such a truth provided David with confidence and stability.  David Jeremiah has said, "For some reason, we are greatly tempted to think that because no one else is around, God isn't either; because no one else knows how we feel, God doesn't either."  Sometimes, you may be tempted to doubt God's omniscience, but don't falter, becasue He is the God who knows.  Job said of Him, "He knows the way that I take."  In His perfect omniscience, God knows where to find you and He knows just how you feel.  He knows my path, therefore I can trust Him.

"Father, I worship You today for being the God who knows.  There is nothing that escapes your attention, and wisdom is to be found in Your presence.  I praise You for the perfect wisdom of the cross, wisdom that the world doesn't understand.  May I live according to the wisdom of Christ, and simply trust You when I am overwhelmed."

Time Well Spent



"In the morning my prayer comes before You."

Psalm 88:13 says, "But to You I have cried out, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You."  Do you have a regular time every day where you get alone with God, read His Word, and spend time in prayer before Him?  I'm telling you, it is time well spent!  It is a spiritual investement that will result in both temporal and eternal dividends.  I personally believe that the best time to get alone with God is early in the morning before the busy activities of the day come calling.  You will soon find out that making this your practice will set the tone for your entire day.  God will show you things and share truth with you that will make the difference when a problem arises during the course of the day.  You will also be amazed at how He will supply you with the strength that is needed to live for Him and be a witness.  Another advantage to spending time with Jesus first thing in the morning is that He will plant His Word in your heart, and it will help you in your battle with sin.  It is truly amazing at how something I have read from God's Word will keep coming back to me and will impact my life all the day long.

"Father in heaven, how I love spending time in Your presence, for it is time well spent!  I rejoice in the truth of Your Word.  May I ever hide it in my heart so that I may not sin against You.  Lord Jesus, I worship You for being my Savior and Strengthener.  Keep me close to You as I go through my daily walk."