A Thought For The Lord's Day—And Every Day

Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.

—Charles Wesley, 1739

Another Thought from John 12

John 12:28: "Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."

The verb used in that verse three times is the Greek doxazo, which appears 62 times in the N.T. and is translated "glorify" (in the KJV) in all but eight of those. It is related to the Greek noun doxa, which appears 168 times in the N.T. and is translated "glory" in most of those. It is from this word that we get our term "doxology."

Consider what it must have been like that day, to have been in the presence of Jesus Christ, and to hear this "voice from heaven"—the same voice which said a few years earlier "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17)—speak! No doubt the crowd in Jerusalem was sizable, and many heard it. It must been an incredible and unforgettable experience. Most importantly, it indicated that Jesus Christ spoke truth—He was and is the Son of God.

John 12:42-43: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

It was very interesting to discover that the word "praise," used twice in vs. 43, is that word doxa again. Although it is translated "praise" in this verse, most of the time it is translated "glory" in our English Bible. Notice the sad truth: These men would rather receive glory/praise from men than receive it from God. They would rather hear the voices of men glorify their names than to hear the "voice from heaven" glorify them!

That was a tragic realization. And then I thought, how many of us are like that....how many of us would prefer to hear mortal, sinful humans praise and glorify us than hear God praise and glorify us?

Will we be content with the praise of men, or will we seek the "Well done, good and faithful servant" from God someday?

God's Glory: A Great Quotation

I picked up this great quote from my friend Todd Wood (see blog in right column) regarding the glory we ought to attribute to God. The picture to which he refers (click here to view) is of a very old-looking barn with a sunset in the background. The barn appears to be in danger of collapsing in the next strong wind.

This picture of an Idaho shack is a good illustration of our present earth (Isaiah 24:20). Morally polluted, the earth is on its last leg, swaying like a drunk before the judgment of God. Al Gore is leading a crusade to save it. But we definitely have bigger problems like mankind’s lack of acknowledging and exalting the majesty of God.

There is a scene by far more grand and beautiful than the sun filling the skies, it is when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion and in Jerusalem (Isaiah 24:23). One thing stands out before his ancients. It is glory.

His GLORY.

Stop dwelling on man’s glory.