I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints. –  Psalm 85:8

Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. —Ezekiel 43:2

I’ve had the privilege of seeing some glorious sights in my life and I am sure you have as well.  On the internet you can see beautiful pictures of nature, parts of the world, the different seasons, and many unbelievable things.  But nothing I’ve ever seen comes close to what some Old Testament people saw. Moses, the people he led, Ezekiel, and others witnessed the most breathtaking sight of all time. They had a glimpse of the glory of God—a visible manifestation of the Lord’s invisible being and character.

Moses experienced it on Mount Sinai, and his face shone (Exodus 34:29). The Israelites saw it in the cloud, before God provided them with quail (16:10). Ezekiel saw God’s glory return to the temple, and he fell to the ground (Ezekiel 43:1-5).

Someday we who have been redeemed by Jesus will experience that inspiring sight. God’s glory will shine in the heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10-11). And we will see our risen and glorified Savior, the Lord Jesus (1 John 3:2).

This hope encourages us as Christians to keep going. For nothing in this world compares to seeing God’s glory!

 The glory of God

In the face of His Son

To us who behold Him

Is heaven begun.

The world’s greatest glory is but a spark compared to the radiance of God’s glory.

Other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased, and produced. Mark 4:8

John Chrysostom was one of the most captivating preachers of the early Christian church. However, he recognized that even great orators cannot make everyone listen.

Chrysostom noted, “My preaching is addressed to all . . . , but it is the duty of each one of my listeners to take what is suited for his affliction. I do not know who are sick, who are healthy. Therefore, I discuss subjects of every sort and suited to every illness.”

In Mark 4, the parable of the sower and the soils teaches the importance of how we respond to the Word of God. It tells us that the success or failure of a crop isn’t necessarily in the skill of the farmer or in the power of the seed, but in the quality of the soil.

Some listeners are like rich soil, and the message takes root in their heart. Other audiences resemble the church parking lot, and the seed simply bounces off them. Still others are like a weed patch that chokes potential growth.

Preaching is not “the fine art of talking in someone else’s sleep.” We need to “drink in” the teaching of the Word just as the sick need medicine or as crops need rain. That’s why Jesus urged, “Take heed what you hear” (vs.24). Whether or not you benefit from a sermon is largely up to you.

As planted seed in fertile soil

Has life and will take root,

God’s Word, if nurtured in our hearts,

Breaking Free

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:1

            The elephant is the largest land animal on earth—and one of the most powerful. Yet it takes only a strong rope to restrain one. Here’s how it works. When the elephant is young, he is tied to a large tree. For weeks, he will strain and pull, but the rope holds him fast. So eventually he gives up.

Then, when the elephant reaches his full size and strength, he won’t struggle to get free, for once he feels resistance, he stops. He still believes he’s held captive and can’t break free.

Satan can play a similar trick on us to hold us captive. The Bible assures us that there is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1). We have been set “free from the law of sin and death” (vs.2). But the enemy of our soul tries to make us believe we are still dominated by sin.

What shall we do then? Reflect on what Christ has done. He died for our sins and declared an end to sin’s control over us (vs.3). He rose from the dead and gave us the Holy Spirit. Now we are empowered to live victoriously in Him because “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in [us]” (vs.11).  In Christ, we are set free. 

He has our salvation wrought,

He our captive souls has bought,

He has reconciled to God,

Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house. Luke 9:61

Then in fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go—
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Delayed obedience is only a step away from disobedience.