Reflect God's glory

2 Corinthians 3:18"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Glory in the cross

Galatians 1:4-5 "Who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father, to whom be glory forever and ever."

I often tease among family and friends that those of us who call the Pacific Northwest our home are to be commended for selecting such a beautiful place to live. My father, who cruised the Pacific during World War II and traveled the U.S. extensively in his career, often noted it was always his plan to live out his life on Fidalgo Island. "It doesn't get any better than this," he would say as he sipped a cup of coffee on the deck of his home while scanning a horizon that featured majestic Mt. Baker.

I was reminded the other day, however, while reading an 1886 sermon by the Rev. Charles Spurgeon, that all must look one place only for the true glory of God.

"Has the Father given His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us?" asked Spurgeon. "Then there is glory enough in Jesus Christ upon the cross to last through eternity. Fix your eye upon the bleeding Savior; behold the glorious justice of God in laying guilt on Him, and punishing it on Him, and behold also the inconceivable love of God in thus putting His only begotten to death that we might live through Him. You need not range the world around to see the glory of God in nature, though that is a delightful employment, for there is enough glory in the cross of Christ to last throughout all eternity."

God eager for relationship

A Christian brother of mine felt strongly enough about this message to print it, laminate it and distribute it to friends recently:

Psalm 84:11:
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

From A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy
"The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people. The whole outlook of mankind might be changed if we could all believe that we dwell under a friendly sky and that the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty, is eager to be friends with us."