“Stare at the glory of God until you see it.”- Ray Ortlund
“Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?”- 2 Corinthians 3:7 (NIV)
Jared C. Wilson concludes Chapter 3 of The Imperfect Disciple as he states Christ’s glory far exceeds the glory of the law. In fact, Jonathan Edwards once compared Christ’s glory to the sun rising in its strength and eclipsing the stars.
Thus, Jared asserts, Christianity’s essential message isn’t “do” but “done.” As a result, the author adds, the direct route to God-honoring behavior consists not of good behavior, but of good beholding.
True release, then, comes when God changes who you are. That change comes through Christ’s cross becoming your cross. Jared exhorts:
“Don’t believe the lie that always struggling to obey God is a lot worse than disobeying him with peace. God did not make us to ‘feel good inside’ (or outside) all the time this side of heaven; he made us to share in the suffering of Christ, that we might also share in his resurrection.”
In conclusion, as long as we live in what Jared refers to as the bittersweet limbo of simul justus en peccator (Latin – righteous and at the same time a sinner), we’ll struggle to see the glory. We’ll always fight that battle this side of heaven.
However, we must not get so busy trying to do great things for God that we forget to look at His glory. Then we’ll never quite behold it.
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you stare at the glory of God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Spiritual disciplines – religious duties or relational delights?”
