Glory part 5
Glory isn't earned. It is given. God was given glory in the highest when He gave us His only begotten Son. Glory is a response to something glorious happen. And I hope I'm doing an ok job of making the distinction between trying to earn it, and getting it because of who you are. Because trying to earn glory is works and labor, and that never works. But giving what you've got will illicit a response. The Way of Grace is God reaching out, and the Walk of Faith is our response to it. Let me quote Philippians 1:9-11 to try to make my point, "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Christ Jesus, unto the glory and praise of God." So, as always, its all about love. Being filled with the fruit. The fruit of the Spirit. Which IS love. That's what grows on the Tree of Life. That's what we eat--which is so important when you understand that you are what you eat--and that's what we have to share with others who are hungry. Which, by the way, is everybody. So the more you know, the more you grow. The more you know how you are loved... the more you can love. That's what being a disciple of Christ is: A student of learn. Learning how to love by learning how God loves us. Letting what's inside come out simply by knowing and believing that its in there. And let me touch on "approving things that are excellent" for a minute. Because I've said for a long time, "You don't have to believe everything you think." You can, in fact, bring your thoughts under captivity. You can SET your affection on things above, instead of things on the earth. When you know the truth you can just straight up ignore the lie. And when you know the truth, you can be truthful. Sincere. Without offence. You can enjoy the gift you've been given, and in that way give glory to God. Not trying to get anything, or earn anything, but being grateful for what you have. SHARING what you have. Being generous. Seeing a need that you can meet... and meeting it. Giving what you've got. Giving who you are. That's glorious. That's what gives glory to God. Not being the "typical" (hypocritical) "Christian." Not judging people for doing what you're doing. Not making others look smaller so you can look bigger. But esteeming others higher than yourself. Edifying people. Making people feel GOOD about themselves. Not pointing out what's WRONG with people, but pointing out what's RIGHT with people! Even when we make mistakes--especially when we make mistakes--its important to know that our mistakes, our actions, don't define us. Our God defines us. Our LOVE defines us. Another song lyric, "You are what you love, not who loves you." Which is to say it matters what comes out, not what tries to get in. Because it IS who loves us, if you're talking about the God who IS love. But its not whether or not PEOPLE love you. In my experience, that kind of "love" comes and goes. But God's never ending love is glorious. And because He has given it to us, we can be glorious. We can love, because we are loved!