People struggle throughout their lives often seeking to find that one moment of glory.  Some search for it in great success or power; while, others seek for it is sports or great academic success.  There are some who merely want to know it within their own hearts, believing themselves to have been the best mother or father of all.  We were made to seek Glory; whether, we fully understand that or not.  For some, it may become an obsession with pride; and yet, there is only one hope of our finding the Glory that we seek.  Because, the only hope of Glory is Christ coming to dwell within us.

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me  mightily. Colossians 1:26-29

God created us with a desire to seek that which is glorious and beautiful.  Our hearts leap for joy at the beauty of a sunset, the sounds of music, or the feelings of love.  Often, we may find beauty in some unlikely places that others have shunned.  An act of kindness warms our heart. We realize that often “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Because of this, we desire glory; believing that in finding our moment of glory we will therein find meaning and purpose for our life.

Continue reading Should A Heart Hope for Glory? If so, How? →

 

be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God Colossians 1:23-25

What depth of humility do we see here by Paul and what willingness to surrender to whatever suffering, tribulation, and trials necessary for the spreading of the Gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth! Paul rejoiced that God would have chosen him to be a minister of the gospel. He rejoiced despite his knowing that this mission required suffering. Paul was always in awe of the truth that he had been chosen by God to teach the gospel and for that reason, remained always with rejoicing even during great trials and tribulations. He considered it an honor to be a follower of Jesus even if that meant he had to suffer. After all, Paul realized his own suffering would never compare to the suffering that Christ had endured. Indeed, part of the mystery of salvation was that Christ through the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and by such, suffers in our suffering as well.

Another truth we might want to consider here is that Paul was a Jewish scholar. Now he was the one chosen to teach the gospel of Christ to the gentiles. Paul had been a “Hebrew of the Hebrews, a Pharisee” Phil 3:5. As such he had shunned the gentiles his whole life considering them “dirty”. Now, after his coming to know Christ as his Lord and Savior; Paul was the apostle chosen to lead the crusade of preaching the gospel message to the gentiles. Continue reading How Can Joy Be Found in A Ministry Of Suffering? →

having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; Colossians 1:20-23

The Gospel–the good news is this; Jesus Christ took upon Himself the full wrath and punishment for our sin. He made an unbreakable Peace Accord with God for all who accept His Sacrifice as atonement for their sin. Through His death and resurrection; He has cloaked us with His righteousness, giving us eternal life in His presence as Beloved Children of God. He presents us to the Father as holy, blameless, and above reproach.

I want to pause here for one moment to consider what it is to be above reproach. The definition is: such that no criticism can be made; perfect, faultless, flawless, immaculate, unblemished, unsullied, and untarnished. Stop and think about how remarkable that is. We who were alienated from God because of our wicked works of our mind are counted now as perfect, faultless, flawless without even a blemish! We whose minds still wander and stray from the truth are presented to God as though already perfect. What an amazing gift that is! Continue reading How to Be Perfectly Faultless in Life →