GLORY WISE

Greetings -

Our Lord reminded me that not only can we experience His glory but that He is our glory.  We are justified, glorified, and certified. Wow! That is deep!  He is our glory and the lifter up of our heads. That is Bible truth.  Holy truth, indeed, is disputed but it is what it is, regardless.  I am so glad to know that nothing and no one surpasses the truth of Almighty GOD.

Psalm 3:3
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Galatians 1:11
But I certify you,... 

How do we, with GOD, become justified, glorified, and certified?  Live holy as He commands.  Love is vital - for GOD first, for ourselves, and for others.  Love, it must be mentioned, "ain't no wimp."  I heard a pastor once share with his congregation that his then
teen-aged son, after repeated requests, failed to make his bed.  The pastor stated that he had a younger child in the home and that it was important to show the example of how he handled his older son's conduct.  Well, one day the son came to his bedroom and his bed was gone. I don't recall how long the bed was gone but I do recall that the pastor stated that when it was returned, his son never failed to make it again.  The pastor's younger daughter was in the congregation that day as he told the story.  She confirmed that she never failed to make her bed based on what she observed relative to her older brother.  That same pastor admonished parents to put their grown children out if they fail to conform to respectable and responsible modes of behavior.  To some that may sound harsh, but done righteously, I believe that it is "tough love" that does, sometimes, become necessary.   Wise people know that love cannot always be "mild" in tone and/or action.  Imagine how Satan can wreak havoc if true worshippers of GOD don't take firm stands against evil and unrighteous conduct?!  I heard a pastor recently say, "When did we become such wimps?"

It is true that GOD allows us to be persecuted but He also appoints us to use our holy authority against the forces of evil.  Yes, we love but we also "war a good warfare" as stated in 1 Timothy 1:18.  

Glory for us cannot be if we don't love nor can it be if we practice habitual disobedience against the Word of GOD.  Steadfast obedience to our Lord allows us to occupy glory realms.  Residence in GOD's glory is the highest level in Him -  on earth.  2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."  

There are people who profess Christ as Saviour, who because of deliberate choices to oppose GOD, do not dwell in glory realms.  Here I don't mean baby Christians but so-called mature "Christians" who refuse to forsake carnality and "dry bones" heart postures.  Some such "Christians" steadfastly oppose GOD's holy saints.  The result is that said "Christians" subtract from themselves, and deprive themselves of the glory places in our Lord.  Continuance in such postures leads to spiritual death which equals, for the most part, no holy power/authority.  I Samuel 2:30 says, "...but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."  

Does our Lord need more watchmen to declare, "Thus saith the Lord and say as Jeremiah did, "Amend your ways"?  Do we do too much "excusing" the sins of ourselves, and others and "justifying" why we do not address it?  We can righteously help one another if we speak the truth in love - that habitual sin should cease.  I know that, at times, I need to be rebuked and have learned to appreciate it when I am.  Of course, our Lord requires that we rebuke in love.     

Ezekiel 33:7
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

Ezekiel 33:8
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Jeremiah 26:13
Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.  

The glory realm is holy ecstasy.  My desire is that others who are deprived and spiritually dead - repent, amend their ways, and come to understand that GOD bountifully rewards righteousness.  Otherwise they are resigned to spiritual death and unprofitability. 

Prayer:

Father, in the name of JESUS, please help us all to strive steadfastly to dwell in glory realms.  We are commanded to keep You as our First Love.  Help us, please Lord, to do that.  And please teach us how to admonish, and to help one another, in love, so that we can be steadfast in our holy service to You. Your Word informs us that it is the doers of Your will who shall enter into Your kingdom - Matthew 7:21. 

You are not pleased with frozen fruit, canned fruit, or rotten fruit.  You delight in fresh anointed holy fruit.  Help us, please, Lord, to be precisely that, according to Your Word so that You, "the King of glory shall come in." - Psalm 24:9

Thank you, Lord - Amen