04/03/2022
When we go through trials, and are suffering terribly, do we only give the Lord the glory once we have emerged from them? Do we look back on what has happened and glorify the Lord for having rescued us? As we approach Easter it is a good time to look not only on the risen Christ, but on the glory He brought His Father in every moment of His suffering. His obedience, dedication to the will of God, and unwavering faith in the midst of horrific suffering. The pentacle of His Glorification of God was most certainly in the completion of God’s will, but He also glorified Him by suffering on the cross, or as Isaiah wrote… “in the fires” themselves. How do we personally endure our fires? Do we glorify God in them, or only after they have been extinguished?
“Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.”
Isaiah 24:15 KJV
People watch us as we are going through the valleys of our lives, they see how we suffer, grieve, mourn, cry out, and even die. They watch our faith as it either rises above these things, or, heaven forbid, succumbs to them. If we could have seen through the eyes of God on the day that Jesus hung suffering on the cross, we would not only have seen the Son of God glorifying His Father, but Satan moving in and out of the crowd as he looked for opportunities to diminish what was happening there, and to tarnish the glory that Jesus was bringing God. When Jesus cried out to God from the cross it was Satan that prompted some in the crowd to yell out…
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.””
Matthew 27:46-47 ESV
How are we being viewed by others when we are in the midst of hardships? Can Satan use the things we say, or our actions when confronted by suffering or temptation, to cast doubt on our faith, or diminish the glory we should be bringing God? When we are facing a loss will we tell a lie to gain victory? If we are in need will we take something that is not ours? When our body yearns, and we are tempted, will we yield to sin? In the end we might overcome, or extinguish, all of these things, but in the midst of the fire… are we behaving like Jesus Christ, and bringing glory to God “IN” the fire, and from the cross?
“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
Colossians 2:15 ESV
We are weak, so it should give us great confidence, and assuredness, to know that we are not victors because of Jesus, but “IN” Him. If we remain “IN” Him we too will disarm authorities, such as Satan, and otherwise triumph over them. By abiding “IN” Him we will overcome suffering, and temptation. Jesus is our strength, and our very life.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 ESV
When we suffer on our individual crosses we suffer “IN” Him. So, as we begin our life of faith, and pick up our own crosses to follow Him we too should be resolved that we will bring glory to God in our personal suffering as He did in His, and not just on the last page of our lives when, in the conclusion of our life’s stories, we might snatch victory from defeat. No, through Christ all things are possible today, and right now.
“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:12-13 ESV
Let’s use the power of the Easter season to focus us on glorifying God, and let’s not wait for our resurrection, and final judgement, to do so, but glorify Him every day, in all we do, and especially in the fires we find ourselves engulfed by, and crosses we are nailed to. In this way our examples will lead others to know Him, and long to be “IN” Christ as we are.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for sending your Som Jesus Christ to redeem us. Thank you for making it possible that we abide in Him as He abides in you, and for allowing us to share in his joys and suffering as together we bring you glory. Let His life be in us, and may we glorify you with every breath we take. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is worthy of all glory and praise forever. Merciful are you who not only forgives us, but purifies us as we abide in Christ. The fires of life torment us, but in them we find reason to worship you, and praise your name. All glory is yours, and in Jesus we long to glorify you without ceasing. Hear our prayers Father, and transform us degree by degree into the image of your Son. Find us worthy as He is worthy, and call us your children. Seat us before you at your table, and feed us the truth and goodness of your Word forevermore.
““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 ESV
Rich Forbes