Morning Meditation: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son,  whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory..." - Hebrews 1:1-2

The Light of heaven stepped onto the darkened stage of the universe and in one breath drew back the curtain that will never be closed. The radiance of God's glory took center stage that first day of creation and has never ceased to shine. The whole earth was illuminated by His splendor and continues to cling to His majestic robe in utter dependence for its life. The supreme radiance of the One and Only engulfed every part of nature and His glorious character was revealed in an endless stream of blessing that brought life and fruitfulness to the world. "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God" (Isaiah 35:1-2).  

The first act of creation was the revelation of the Glory of God, and the grand expression of His unutterable glory was the declaration of the deity of His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). The Son is "the brightness of God's glory" (KJV); an overwhelming ray of light emanating from the Majesty of Heaven, who humbled all of creation, in the beginning, into holy submission. It was this same glory that caused Abram to fall on his face in reticent awe (Genesis 17:3); Isaiah to utter words of incredible woe (Isaiah 6:5); and who came to dwell in the tabernacle and temple of the Lord (Exodus 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11). We would do well to remember this day that, when we pray, this is the Presence we are entering, and to do so with humble and reverential fear. May His glory be returned to His church and be revealed to this generation. Let us soak in the light of His glorious presence as we praise His holy name.  

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of His glory.

At the sound of their voices the doorposts

and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined!

For I am a man of unclean lips,

and I live among a people of unclean lips,

and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

(Isaiah 6:3-5)

Afternoon Devotion: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." - 2 Corinthians 4:6

On the day our Bridegroom "cut covenant" with His Bride and walked down the dividing aisle that separated His betrothed from His Father, He removed the veil that hid her face in shame because of sin. "Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame" (Psalm 34:5). From the moment we wed our hearts to His the fullness of His radiance became ours and we became partakers of His eternal and unfading glory. "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" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

(Isaiah 60:1-5a)