Monday, August 22, 2005

Basking in God’s Magnificence, His glory!

This is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it! God's presence was so strong yesterday at Centroplex and I couldn't help but stay in awe of His goodness and glory! When I arrived home, my heart still was in the state of worshipping and giving honor to God. How awesome is His glory indeed. I remember the time when Bunty Collins from Australia shared God'sglory to BCCB so many years back. When she shared a glimpse of howbrilliant God's glory is, I couldn't help myself but to go down on myknees, bask at His magnificence and worship him! It's unfathomable!In Exodus chapter 33 to 34, it reiterates that Moses' prayer was tosee the manifest glory of God. He wanted assurance of God's presencewith him and desired to know that presence experientially. Because weare finite and morally imperfect, we cannot exist and see God as heis. To see God's back means we can only see where God has passed by.We can only know him by what he does and how he acts. We cannotcomprehend God as he really is apart from Jesus Christ (John 14:9).Instead, Jesus promised to show himself to those who believe (John14:21). How awesome is this thought? My simple interpretation ofthis is that, only Jesus can stand in His presence. For us to witnessGod's glory, we will not live!

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, his face glowed from being in God’s presence (Exodus 34:29-35). Moses had to put on a veil to keep the people from being terrified by the brightness of his face and from seeing the radiance fade away. Spending time with God should have such an effect in our lives that our faces glow of His goodness and grace.

Let me just site a few lines in Exodus:Exodus 33:1919The LORD replied, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, andI will call out my name, `the LORD,' to you. I will show kindness toanyone I choose, and I will show mercy to anyone I choose. 20But youmay not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live."21The LORD continued, "Stand here on this rock beside me. 22As myglorious presence passes by, I will put you in the cleft of the rockand cover you with my hand until I have passed. 23Then I will removemy hand, and you will see me from behind. But my face will not be seen."What is God's glory? It is his character, his nature, his way ofrelating to his creatures. God did not give Moses a vision of hispower and majesty, but rather of his love. God's glory is revealed inhis mercy, grace, compassion, faithfulness, forgiveness, and justice.God's love and mercy are truly wonderful, and we benefit from them. Wecan respond and give glory to God when our characters resemble his. Notice also in Exodus 33:14, "My presence will go with you, and I willgive you rest." If we maintain living our lives giving glory to God,as Pastor Joe shared with us, it is really for our benefit. It is notfor Him, but for us to enjoy and share with others.


I see God's glory in my everyday life. Simple as they are, they manifest God's brilliance and magnificence!I give glory to God ……..……….when I hear the birds chirp in the morning while drinking coffee,……….when I lay in bed every night with the wonderful husband He gave me,……….when I call on my WOP cell group and Jonathans for a prayer support,……….when I see my children, my precious jewels, and getting tons of hugs and kisses from them everyday, ……….when I get a bar of chocolate from a secret generous giver,……….when my flowers bloom in the garden, ……….when I get to see the beautiful, radiant faces at Ikthus Center, ……….when I cry in pain and when I know God is there, ……….when times are low and troubled, and in all circumstances, God's glory is revealed.When somebody asks me the secret of staying beautiful, I simply replyby saying, "Must be God's glory!" We find rest in God’s glory. That's how life should be lived! That's how simple it is.