Morning Meditation: "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." - Colossians 1:27

The people watched as Moses entered the cloud that had settled on Mount Sinai. The glory of the Lord on top of the mountain looked like a consuming fire.   "Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder" (Exodus 19:18, 19a). The people were instructed not to go near the mountain or even touch the foot of it. To come that close to the glory of the Lord would mean death to the one who dared to enter His presence without being summoned. Whenever the glory of the Lord was seen, those who beheld His glory fell down on their faces with reverence and awe of His majesty (Isaiah 6:5; Ezekiel 1:28; 3:23). Moses couldn't even enter the tabernacle when the glory of the Lord filled it (Exodus 40:35); and the high priest was only able to enter the presence of the Lord one day a year, on the annual Day of Atonement. "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).

How awesome it is that holy God would condescend to share His glory with little man (Psalm 8:5-6); but then when we would waste it, to do the unimaginable and restore it to us once again. This time there would be no cloud or fire in the sky, no earthquake on the mountaintop, or a sacred room that was set apart. Holy God would reveal His glory in the person of Jesus Christ, made visible in our human flesh. One who we could approach freely and have the privilege of physical touch. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). The superior covenant that Jesus brought us through His superior sacrifice has opened the heavenly sanctuary and shed the light of His glory in our hearts. "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). Let us take some time to meditate on this glory that is ours: the glory that caused men to tremble in holy fear, and made the mountains shake; that glory that looked like a consuming fire, and filled up every space. The new life we've been given through faith in Jesus Christ has opened the door to His glory and the riches of God's grace. Our lives therefore should bring a revelation of the glory of the Lord, and be a constant testimony of His righteousness and love. May the presence of His glory bring us to our knees in prayer, and lead us to repent of anything unholy or unworthy that might be there.

(Isaiah 40:5)

Afternoon Devotion: "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." - Romans 5:2b

God had purposed from the beginning, when He made man in His own image, that man should be made ruler over His creation. When man lost that regal crown of "glory and honor" that was bestowed upon his head, his body became a slave to sin, because he had detached from his royal Head. "He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow" (Colossians 2:19). That sinful severing paralyzed man and inhibited his growth and has kept him from the becoming what God originally intended him to be. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

(Zechariah 9:9, 11-12)