God’s glory

A Glorious Unity!

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. John 17:22 ESV

It is quite poplar at church to say that we should be one in the Spirit, but much as I have tried to get a hold of that unity, it seems elusive at best. Singing about it, having communion together and shaking hands after church feels great, but my sense of unity seems to evaporate somewhere in traffic on the way home. Part of the problem is that many of us don’t understand that first part of the verse. When Jesus talks about glory, I get this weird image of God giving us a standing ovation in heaven or perhaps Jesus pulling the Father aside and whispering, “See Pete over there – isn’t he great!”

The problem we then run into is that we try to work up Christian unity by our own efforts. I don’t know how that works for you, but the sad truth is that I am incapable of doing it. Unity comes only from God’s glory and one of the most glorious moments in Jesus’ life, happened at His baptism. Then the Heavens opened, and the Spirit descended like a dove. That is a glory that only comes as a gift (Just like Salvation). We can’t work it up, plan it into existence or take credit for it. It is a unity that only comes from heaven, and it is God’s gift. To live in His unity and His glory will only happen when we place our lives as living sacrifices on His altar. Then we need to wait for His Spirit to come and bring about what only He can do. That way, when unity really does happen, even for a moment, Jesus gets all the glory, right now and forever Amen!

Changing the World

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.  John 7:18

We often say that we are trying to change the world while forgetting that the only one we really have a hand in changing is our own. Of course without God’s help we are not too great with even that. Knowing how to get started is for me the most frustrating part. Whether trying to change my use of critical words or my diet that will help me lose critical pounds I find that failure lurks around every corner.

Imported from phone 024

Back in Jesus’ day He found himself surrounded by people with all kinds of different heart issues. Some were following him only because they wanted to see what amazing thing He would do next. Some tried to entangle him with trick questions, hoping to get him arrested. A few really wanted to know more about God and genuinely wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.

The great thing is that Jesus got right to the point. His words shone like a spotlight, not only on that crowd but also on us. His words force us to ask ourselves the hardest question: “Who are we trying to impress?”

If we are only hoping to win popularity and acceptance from people and not from God then not matter how we try, we will fail. Our failure will not be that we miss changing the outward form and the material benefits of our efforts but that we miss out on the only one whose opinion really matters: that is the opinion of God. Once we can settle that issue then real change will begin. When God is glorified in our attitudes and actions, He moves all kinds of mountains and we will find an unexpected joy, just resting in Him. Who am I trying to impress? If my answer is Jesus; then His promise is to come and change my world today!