I am re-engaging in my study of the word “glory” and what a way for it kick off.

“¹⁸Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. ¹⁹Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” – Psalm 72:18-19 (ESV)

The passage of Psalm 72 is a prayer to the granting of kingship to Solomon. As was the time then, yes, the king inherited the thrown. Solomon was to be king based on his lineage. There was another part of it though. Whereas the king was granted the thrown through right of lineage, in order for the king to be fully installed and accepted, as a theocracy they ruled in the name of God and must be “blessed” into the role so as to be there in and perform in the name of God.

Solomon was wise and as we find it so much so that he asked for wisdom from God. What comes from this passage, we find his father, David, praying for his continued wisdom and rule in and for God.

I was brought to the passage with verse 18 and as the full passage wraps up, it is apparent that God led me here for a lesson. We know that our leaders are to be given their respect for the positions they have been elected/appointed to or hold otherwise. I do not always agree with those in those positions, but as a follower of Christ I respect the position they are in.

No one knew the type of king that Solomon was to be. David wanted to assure that the people were reminded that he was a man of God and would rule as a man of God and should be give the respect of the position he was to hold.

David wraps up the passage with the verses you see I have quoted, and where does his ultimate delivery of honor and glory go but to God Himself. He was speaking from authority he had, but his prayer was to God and to give glory to Him. As I look at the passage and these verses, David was thinking of God, even in the installation of his son as king.

I have to continually remember these verses, but mare than in just what they say. I have to be conscious of the position of those verses and that they represent the full give of glory to God in all that I do.

Where are you giving glory daily? Are you looking to give glory to those that are in positions of “authority” or simply giving them the respect they deserve? What if we continued to heap glory on God for all things?

Paul wrote to be content with where you are, and that marriage was not something that we should concern ourselves with. In fact in verse 38 of 1 Corinthians chapter 7 he wrote: “³⁸So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.” (ESV)

Now I read in Hebrews chapter 13:

“⁴Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” – Hebrews 13:4 (ESV)

When I read the two together, it can be a bit confusing when not taken in the right context. As I wrote referring to the verse in 1 Corinthians, I referred to the purpose of staying where we are as a means to focus our attention on God. Even Paul in the passage indicates that there is nothing wrong or sinful of marriage, only that we should refrain from those things that distract us from serving and pleasing God.

Now when I read the verse and passage in Hebrews chapter 13, I see that marriage is something to be held in honor. I have to remember, when I marry, it is for good and therefor I should be devoted to the sanctity of marriage and my wife Lori. And to take it a bit further as relates to the passage, that devotion is a sacrifice to pleasing God.

You see, if you did not know, marriage is hard and it takes a lot of work. There will be days that disagreements arise. There will be times that spouses do things that are not in line with communications that originally took place. There will be opportunities to stray from the devotion to the other. It is in those times that the honor of the marriage becomes a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. Thinking of the other and the sanctity of the marriage and coming back to the love that brought you together in the first place that God looks down and smiles on the work you have done.

I am not the expert on marriage, as the items I listed in the above paragraph have all happened in my almost 25 years with Lori. But, the thing I keep coming back to are those words we uttered on April 19, 1997, “til death do us part”. I am devoted to her and our marriage. I gladly accept the sacrifice of that devotion and know that it is pleasing to God.

Where are you devoted? Are you able to accept the sacrifices that are pleasing to God? What if your marriage where held in honor and serves as a sacrifice that makes God smile?

As I wrote the title to this writing I cannot help but think of how it might be taken. That is consistent with what I read this morning in 1 Corinthians as Paul writes about the unmarried. When reading the words of Paul, without digging in to understand, one would think that he has something against marriage and believes that one should not marry. To some degree, he is against marriage, but only as in doing so, one places them in a state where it gets in the way of serving the Lord. He is only saying it is better to remain as you are to keep your focus on God.

“²⁶I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.” – 1 Corinthians 7:26 (ESV)

Now if one does get married, they have not done anything wrong in the eyes of God or the law. One only should be aware of what comes with marriage.

“²⁸But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.” – 1 Corinthians 7:28 (ESV)

Again, as I have encountered a number of times, I have studied this passage before. I was studying the word “please” and verses 32-35 of 1 Corinthians 7 were the verses of that study. What was gained in my study was that I should do my best to stay away from those things that bring or could bring anxiety to my life. I should be focused on God and my pleasing of Him. In fact as I do just about every morning I write in the margin of my bible to capture a reminder and here is what I wrote in the margin then.

“We should be free from the anxiety of this world and concern ourselves with only pleasing the Lord!”

When I read that this morning, I was, as intended, reminded that in this world, my focus and biggest concern is to be on God. I should be doing those things to please Him and avoid those things that will distract me from Him.

That brings me back to Paul and my title to this writing. We should not allow marriage, or anything else get in the way of our serving and pleasing God. Paul sums it up well in verse 38.

“³⁸So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.” – 1 Corinthians 7:38 (ESV)

He is clear to me that marriage is not a bad thing and if deciding to marry, good for you. But as he mentioned in verse 26, “it is good for a person to remain as he is.” When doing so, one is able to direct his focus to God, pleasing and serving Him.

Where is your focus? Are you allowing the things of the world, like possibly marriage, to get in the way of your focus on God? What if you were to remove or avoid the distractions, and focus your attention on pleasing and serving God?

I will say that this morning I was certainly not looking to learn about contract, but as should be known to me, God provides what we need and leads us down the path He needs us to go.

As I read in Romans 7 this morning I am in the passage titled “Released from the Law”. Here Paul is lining out the law and how it pertains to the Christian. I was led here as I am studying the word “marriage” and verse two and three references the law of marriage as pertains to when one is released from that law, at death.

“²For a married woman is bound by the law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. ³Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.” – Romans 7:2-3 (ESV)

As I look into these verses, I see that the law is only really in effect as long as we are alive in this world. Of course I am speaking to the written law of this world. I am held to the law of the land that I am in. I am accountable to that law in all aspects.

But I am not, as a follower of Christ, only bound by the law of the land. I was released from the law of the land when Christ died for my sins and I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. With my salvation, I died to the world and am living the life with and according to Christ.

“⁶But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.” – Romans 7:6 (ESV)

I have written on these verses a couple of times before and with those, I have written the following in the margin of Bible:

“Our Christ-like actions do not require the written law to be in line with the right thing.”

What a statement of fact as to being released from the law. I am to be focused on following the lead of Christ and in doing so I will be acting at a rate that is greater than the law of the land. In doing so, I should have extremely minimal difficulties with the authorities as pertains to the law of the land. If I do something that is contrary to the law of the land, but in doing so maintain the law of God, then I have done nothing wrong in the eyes of God. I am still accountable to the law of the land I live in, but accept that freely as I know that ultimately I have obeyed the law of God and that is the law for which I do not wish to be released.

I am bound by the law. Which law is determined by where I find myself. If I am of this world, I am of the law of this world. But as a follower of Christ I have been released from the law of this world, thanks to the death and resurrection of Christ and am now bound by the law according to God.

What laws are you finding yourself bound to? Are you holding on to the law of the land? What if you accepted the salvation provided by Christ and lived as released from the law of the land to follow the law according to God?

Staying focused on something can be a bit of a challenge, especially when it is something that one is not fully vested in. If you are simply doing something as a favor to someone, you will be distracted by something that fully interests you. If your mind is consumed with things going on in your personal life, having your head fully in your items at the office are difficult. If you are more interested in the relationship with your significant other, then you may miss the opportunity to serve and glorify God.

“³⁸For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, ³⁹and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” – Matthew 24:38-39 (ESV)

I see here in this passage the reminder that those that surrounded Noah were more interested in the goings on in their own lives than focused on the Lord. They were having a grand time living it up, even to the point of distracting themselves with marriage and as such, they were basically unaware that something significant was happening right in front of them.

God is where our focus should be and all that goes on around us is just that, going on around us. Those items are simply a distraction placed there by Satan to take our eyes off of God and the glory that shines with Him. I admit that I get distracted by those things that “seem important” only to realize that in the end, those thing really don’t matter. If I have the chance to finish them, great, but my more dedicated focus should be on God and bringing glory to Him.

I love my wife Lori and for her I am thankful to God for bringing her into my life. I devote myself to her and want nothing but the best for her. But, my ultimate focus should be on God and bringing glory to Him. It is my duty to serve Him will all of me. In doing so, Lori does not become a distraction, but a gift provided by God and therefore my appreciation for her is enhanced.

What in your life is a distraction to your relationship with God? Are you allowing other, worldly things to get in the way of serving and bringing glory to God? What if you turned your focus on God and allowed all of the things around you be just that, around you, and not serve as a distraction to your relationship with God?

Lori and I have have been married for almost 25 years. I love her and would do anything for her, and based on our relationship, she does and would do the same. But when Christ returns, she and I will have our eyes fixed only on Him and our marriage will not be the same.

“³⁰For in the resurrection they neither marry not are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” – Matthew 22:30 (ESV)

Jesus here was being challenged by the Sadducees. They were distorting things in the hopes of catching Jesus in some sort of falsehood. The scenario was from such a one-off place that it was clear they were only speaking from a place of the law, and were not bringing God into the thought at all. As members of the “religious” they were looking at a legalistic view of marriage and not one from the perspective of God.

Legalism has no place in our life with God. The law, whereas is important for us to obey, is in place as a determiner of punishment and not there in the interest of doing God’s work. I often say that the law and everything with it only keeps the honest people honest. Those that will break the law do not pay attention to the law.

The Sadducees were caught up in the law and not in the life devoted to Christ. As such, they would not see the living according to God’s commands. In fact, the Pharisees challenged Jesus just after He made the statements about marriage and the resurrection with this question, and Jesus answers.

“’³⁶Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ ³⁷And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord our God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” – Matthew 22:36-37 (ESV)

The law is in place to remind us that we are to do what is right. And what is right, doing that which is pleasing to God. And what is pleasing to God, loving Him with all of you.

We may have a spouse here in this world, and we are to devote to them as we see in Ephesians 5:22-33, but our more permanent devotion is to God. We are to love Him will everything and devote our lives to doing His will. In this world, the Lord is where our eyes are fixed for guidance and direction while we also spend our time lovingly devoted to our spouse. When the resurrection comes, He is where 100% of our focus will be and our marriage here in this world is transformed into a sibling relationship with God as our father.

I love and am devoted to Lori, and while here in this world, I and she together fix our eyes on Christ to lead us. But, when Christ returns our devotion turns 100% to Him and the law of man, in this world is eroded away.

Where are you devoted and to whom for what reason? Are you looking to the law to keep your relationships? What if we looked to God for all and allowed the law in this world to erode away?

As I study and write about the word “knowledge” I have realized and been reminded of different aspects to the word and my understanding of it as relates to the world and more importantly, as relates to Christ. This morning is no different as I read in 2 Peter.

“¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

I have mentioned on a substantial number of occasions that I am focused on growth and learning, so much so that it is my personal mission statement. As I read this verse this morning, I was reminded of my mission statement to: “Improve lives through growth and learning as an example of Christ’s love.” The verse above, as I read it, is a close rephrase of my mission statement, or more accurately, my mission statement is a rephrase of the verse. This verse was written by Peter likely just before his death in the letter he wrote to Christians. Chapter 3 where the verse is found, according to the introduction in my ESV bible, was to bring visibility to our living holy and godly lives as we wait on His return.

I see this verse as a shout out to living a life as stated to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. We are to not just exist and wait, but we are to grow and learn and understand and live by bringing our newfound knowledge to others in need of finding it. All we need to know and act on are found in the Word of God and as we focus and study on Him. We are to know about Him and bring glory to Him in all that we do. What better way to bring that glory that to grow in the knowledge of Him every day.

Where are you drawing your knowledge from? Are you growing in the world or in Christ? What if you were to focus your attention on growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”?

In Colossians 2:2&3 Paul writes of “the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ” and the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. This morning I was led to 1 Timothy 6 where he speaks again of knowledge, only in what kind to avoid.

I am turned off more and more each day from those in positions of authority that speak from that position as though they are the only authority on a particular topic. I am not calling out any one group of individuals or a particular way of thinking to be sure. I am simply indicating my frustration with what I hear and see and the simple one sided declaration of “rightness” that comes from those speaking. Paul addresses this in his words to Timothy.

“²⁰O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’, ²¹for by professing it some have swerved from the faith, Grace be with you.” – 1 Timothy 6:20-21 (ESV)

Paul makes it clear to Timothy to do the work of God and not be fooled by those that claim to be know things. Timothy was instructed here to question everything and know what he knows as relates to God.

This is such the realization to me as I go into the world today and every day. I should know what I know as relates to God. I should listen to others in the world and question to understand and not just take things stated and done at face value as “right”. I should be careful to follow Christ and not be led astray by those who have “swerved from the faith” as stated by Paul in verse 21 above.

I will be bombarded with those that claim to be speaking the truth, when they may have not done the work to truly understand prior to speaking out. I ask for the knowledge as Paul writes in the below passage.

“²…to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:2b-3 (ESV)

Here, as noted in the beginning of my writing this morning, Paul writes of where our knowledge should be coming from. When we lean on God, we are presented with the knowledge that is needed for all situations. We are tasked with understanding as relates to God and not the world.

Where are you drawing your knowledge from? Are you looking to the world? What if you sought the “knowledge of God’s mystery” as opposed to the “irreverent babble and contradictions” of the world?

“¹For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ²that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” – Colossians 2:1-5 (ESV)

In the above verses Paul takes the time to encourage. He was not able to be there personally, physically, but he still made it a point to give encouragement. I am of the opinion that we all have that chance in life, to be the one that encourages. As we live the life God has for us, we should want nothing more than for others to experience the same joy and the way we do that is to encourage them to seek out God and His salvation.

We do not have to be there in person, and in fact we do not even have to know those that we are encouraging. Paul did not know everyone in Colossae yet he encouraged them. I do not know all of you that engage with my bible study, yet I continue to produce it for me, yes as an extension of my study, but also for you that you might grow in Christ as a result.

The encouragement we give should be specific and not some sort of general “keep going”, “fight the good fight”, “you can do it”. When encouraging, we should give something for the other person to grab onto and strive toward. Paul does just that with his encouragement and it rounds out with “the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ” and “wisdom and knowledge”. If that is not specific encouragement I don’t know what is. Paul gives the people of Colossae the direction to go and cheers for them to get there.

All the while of giving the encouragement, he is doing it from afar. I do not have to be right there with you in person, yet I can give you encouragement to seek out the knowledge of Christ and the wisdom it contains. To do that you should be diving into God’s word daily to study just what it is He has in store for you. I know that you can do it. I know that you will do it.

What encouragement have you received in the past? Is that encouragement specific enough for you to seek the goal? What if you led by example and provided encouragement for others that is specific and it starts with encouraging others to seek the knowledge and wisdom of Christ?

I tell you that when you have been studying the same word or concept for a number of weeks it is difficult each day to know that you will learn something more each day. I sit here each morning over the past few weeks in the study of “knowledge” and pray that God will give me the ability to learn what it is He has in store for me, and today was not exception. I sat down and was led to Ephesians 3:19 that I have studied at least once before, and upon seeing the verse as the one to study today, I was perplexed as to what more would God teach me from here. Well it did not take long for God to reveal to me the purpose of my study this morning.

The whole of the passage of Ephesians 3:14-21 is two sentences. I am going to drill into verse 19 this morning as I write.

“¹⁹and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:19 (ESV)

You see, here Paul writes of the “love of Christ” and “the fullness of God”. The concept is that both are greater than any knowledge we have here in this world. The love of Christ Paul clearly states “surpasses knowledge”, and I take away that the fullness of God does just as well to surpass knowledge.

When we are in the love of Christ, we find ourselves filled with the fullness of God. With that, we are part of the greater understanding than just knowledge of human things and ideas. With the love of Christ and the fullness of God, we are led to be the tool that God uses to reach those around us.

This morning as I was praying before my study, I asked, as I do most mornings, for God to allow others to see Him in me through my actions. I have to take away that I am not here for me but to do the work of God and capitalize on the love of Christ and the fullness of God by presenting both to others through my actions. Yesterday it was brought to me by once of those I have the pleasure of training for the next few weeks that I demonstrate a great amount of patience with all of the technical and other challenges that come with my role. I can only believe that is possible thanks to my display of the love of Christ and fullness of God in all that I do.

As Paul puts it, “the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge”. It is my duty to display that love each day and know that He is greater than all, no matter what it is that we may know here in this world.

When you are out there in the world, what is it that you lean on to impact others? Are you out there on your own stating just how much you know? What if you were to demonstrate the love of Christ and the fullness of God to show just how much greater they are than knowledge?