Looking Into The Glory And Excellency Of God.

Eze 43:5 Net.Bible Translation

Then a wind lifted me up and brought me to the inner court; I watched the glory of the Lord filling the temple.

2Pe 1:3 Net.Bible Translation

I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.

The great early American preacher Jonathon Edwards once said, " There is very great delight the Christian enjoys in the sight he has of the glory and excellency of God. How many arts and contrivances have men to delight the eye of the body. Men take delight in the beholding of great cities, splendid buildings and stately palaces. And what delight is often taken in the beholding of a beautiful face. May we not well conclude that great delights may also be taken in pleasing the eye of the mind in seeing the most beautiful, the most glorious, the most wonderful Being in the world ".

What is it about the Glory and the Excellency of God, that delights the believer in such a special way? I believe it is the fact that in so many ways His Glory has come to be known by His very presence abiding with us ( Exodus 40:34, Ezekiel 10:4, Luke 2:9, Exodus 24:17 ).  Which leads to the idea that God is WITH us, not a million miles out  somewhere in the cosmos, but actually HERE in the now.  This allows us to grasp his abiding presence and majesty and helps us to acknowledge His Excellency as Lord of all.

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God" ( Acts 7:55 ). I will never forget being in a church service in Houston, Texas many years ago. As I sat in that pew and we sang and worshiped God, it seemed that God's presence became ever so close. With every minute of worship and praise God seemed to descend into that tabernacle in a profound way. Then R. L. Mitchell, the pastor of the church, asked us all to just forget about everything else and focus on the Lord for a few moments. Minutes later after I opened my eyes, I saw a cloud inside the building. I don't know if anyone else did, but I did. I knew it was the Glory of God that came down to us in a very personal way. That church's dedication was that day and God was really making a statement.

I want you to know that God wants to make a statement in your life today, just as He did back then. He wants to abide in you and reveal to you the Excellency and power of His name. Yes, God wants to be personally recognizable in your life. Maybe not visibly like that day back in Houston. However, just as real as anything tangible in this life.

Too often our God has become the God "out there, somewhere". Nevertheless, it doesn't have to be that way.  If we but read His Word, spend time in prayer, or in the house of God our worship is like incense being burnt and rising up to Heaven. He is taking it all in. He is looking on an open heart and He will make time to reveal himself to you in a personal way.

I don't know what challenges you are having today. Maybe God seems as far away as across the wide divide of the sea, or as far off in space as the furthest galaxy. However, if I know my Jesus, He is as close as the mention of His name. So if you take some time to know Him, He will take time to express His love to you in the now, in this time and space, with His grace being poured out in the power of His name. 

Don't give up. Don't give in. Give Him a chance to turn things around and show forth His Glory in your life today.