Lingering Glory
The Echo of the Sanctuary
As I sat in the empty sanctuary yesterday, I still heard the echoes of our jubilant and vibrant worship. On Sunday, we declared that He is our King, the Lord of Glory. We raised our banners and voices high, singing and shouting His praise for what He has done. Even now, I remain in awe of the sweet savor of His presence, and am profoundly grateful that He redeemed us with His precious blood.
The Intentionality of God’s Love Story
The writer of Hebrews provides a connected flow of God’s love story toward humanity. It begins by reminding us that God, in multiple ways and times, spoke through His prophets about His intentionality toward redeeming mankind. But that story did not end with words; it culminated in a Person. The Person who welcomed love and adoration from his disciples like John, Peter and Mary Madelene. It was Mary who poured her best fragrance on our Lord, often weeping in deep appreciation for saving her from the grip and misery of sin.
The Express Image of Glory
In addition to being God’s heir, the writer of Hebrews declares that Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of who God is. Hebrews is clear: Christ has already attained the right hand of God. Therefore, if we are to take on the image of God, we must look at the person of Jesus Christ. As citizens of heaven, we cannot choose to see Him as someone who is "not desirable," as described in Isaiah 53. We must check our hearts to ensure that our love for Christ remains deep. If our devotion wanes, or if we are ashamed of Him, He will not announce us before His Father.
The Assurance of Our Transformation
So, how do we as believers develop the assurance that when He appears, we will be like Him? How do we reflect the King of Glory in our daily lives? Psalm 16:8 gives us the key: we must set the Lord always before us. When we keep our eyes fixed on Him, His character, His sacrifice, and His current seat at the Father’s right hand, we find not only stability, but we will also see Christ fully, simultaneously encountering His transcendent fragrance. By setting Him before us, we too can be at God’s right hand and not be shaken by the things of this world.
A Prayer for Our Week
May we carry the image and fragrance of the "King of Glory" from the sanctuary into our streets, so that others seek Him and, in turn, are announced and known to our Father.
Blessings,
Pastor Zhivago Adderley
As I sat in the empty sanctuary yesterday, I still heard the echoes of our jubilant and vibrant worship. On Sunday, we declared that He is our King, the Lord of Glory. We raised our banners and voices high, singing and shouting His praise for what He has done. Even now, I remain in awe of the sweet savor of His presence, and am profoundly grateful that He redeemed us with His precious blood.
The Intentionality of God’s Love Story
The writer of Hebrews provides a connected flow of God’s love story toward humanity. It begins by reminding us that God, in multiple ways and times, spoke through His prophets about His intentionality toward redeeming mankind. But that story did not end with words; it culminated in a Person. The Person who welcomed love and adoration from his disciples like John, Peter and Mary Madelene. It was Mary who poured her best fragrance on our Lord, often weeping in deep appreciation for saving her from the grip and misery of sin.
The Express Image of Glory
In addition to being God’s heir, the writer of Hebrews declares that Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of who God is. Hebrews is clear: Christ has already attained the right hand of God. Therefore, if we are to take on the image of God, we must look at the person of Jesus Christ. As citizens of heaven, we cannot choose to see Him as someone who is "not desirable," as described in Isaiah 53. We must check our hearts to ensure that our love for Christ remains deep. If our devotion wanes, or if we are ashamed of Him, He will not announce us before His Father.
The Assurance of Our Transformation
So, how do we as believers develop the assurance that when He appears, we will be like Him? How do we reflect the King of Glory in our daily lives? Psalm 16:8 gives us the key: we must set the Lord always before us. When we keep our eyes fixed on Him, His character, His sacrifice, and His current seat at the Father’s right hand, we find not only stability, but we will also see Christ fully, simultaneously encountering His transcendent fragrance. By setting Him before us, we too can be at God’s right hand and not be shaken by the things of this world.
A Prayer for Our Week
May we carry the image and fragrance of the "King of Glory" from the sanctuary into our streets, so that others seek Him and, in turn, are announced and known to our Father.
Blessings,
Pastor Zhivago Adderley
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