I cannot adequately explain "glory" but this past Tuesday, when Johnny Memphis sang "I Bowed My Knees and Cried Holy" at in our Fellowship Hall, it is a pretty good example!
Johnny Memphis, the son of a long-time Killeen pastor and now an 'Elvis Tribute Artist,' sang for the Jesus Hope and Love Benefit and I immediately signed him up to sing at our Senior Adult Banquet on May 7. The song (click here to hear it) depicts what it will be like when we come into the presence of God in His Glory.
2. GLORY. The
second Greek word used for God by those holding palm branches also is a word we
know in English, “doxa” from which we
get the word “doxology” and “orthodox.” It means Glory, Splendor, Radiance.
Second on this list, it is also second from the last in the Rev. 5:12 passage,
and like “Blessing” it is repeated in Rev. 5:13. We glorify God by praising Him
for His glorious radiance and essence.
Paul told Titus that we are looking for
the “blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior
Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
Matthew 25:31 says that Jesus will come “in His glory,
and with all the holy angels with Him, and He will sit on the throne of His glory.”
Peter also spoke of Christ’s return as being the “glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).
Glory will come at Christ's Second Coming but it also was manifested at
His First Coming, both in proclamation to and shining on the shepherds (see
Luke 2:9, 14). During Jesus' earthly ministry, this glory was foreshadowed at the Transfiguration (Luke
9:31-32) and will be consummated at His Second Coming. For the New Jerusalem,
the Bible says there will be no need for the sun and the moon to shine upon it
for the glory of God will illuminate it.
“What does the
glory of God mean to you? In what ways can we glorify God or bring Him glory?”
In John 17:24, Jesus prayed,
“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one
just as We are one.” What are some practical ways that we can not only bring
glory to God but that He can give us or let us share in His glory? How can we
reflect His glory in our lives?
Romans 8:18 says, “For I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
2 Cor. 4:17 says, “For
our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” How does God’s promised glory
help us go through the hard times of this life?
