I am blessed to be a member of the family of God. I have been granted all the blessings that come with that relationship. Including, but not limited to strength and power. And I know that I need that strength and power each day as I walk in this world.

“¹⁶that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” – Ephesians 3:16 (ESV)

The granting of that strength and power come from God and His glory, and not from the world and all that is in it and the people we connect with. Now I do have to be careful with the last part of that sentence in that we are to commune with Christians to draw on their strength and seek their help, guidance, and love as that all comes from their fellow relationship in the family of God. I recently was speaking to a dear friend of mine and where I was feeling down and out, his friendship and relationship allowed, no compelled him to listen and lift me up in my time of need. That was only possible from the relationship I and he both have in Christ and the glory that comes from Him.

We may not have it all as the world sees it, but we do have it all in the eyes of God and thanks to the relationship we have as a member of His family. That relationship gives us access to family members that will lift us up and guide us and help us as we walk this world. And, we have the power and strength to provide for them as well as they walk. God’s glory is where it all comes from and it is up to us to draw on that glory for strength and power to walk this world in His image.

Where are you drawing your strength and power? Are you looking to yourself or the world to give it to you? What if you were to draw that strength and power from the membership and relationship in the family of God and His glory?

“³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” – Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV)

Here Paul is clear that we were predestined as heirs to God through Jesus Christ. We are all set in our eternal glory with Him. I cannot help but go back to John 1:3 to see more about this.

“³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” – John 1:3 (ESV)

All things were created through by God through Jesus Christ. I am a part of all things. I was made for a purpose and predestined to receive the glory of God through Jesus Christ death and resurrection. My glory was written before I was made.

As I was predestined for glory, I have to do my part to maintain that glory. I have choices to make in this world to do God’s will. I am not allowed to sit idle in my life and rest now. I will have plenty of time to rest when the work for God is done. I need to continue to act as the one inheriting the glory that God provides through the Jesus Christ.

“¹¹In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹²so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. ¹³In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:11-14 (ESV)

My predestination is carefully guarded and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit until that time I am called home. But make no mistake, my glory is already set. I am already an heir with Jesus and while I am here in this world, the Holy Spirit is by my side protecting me from the evil one.

What guarantees do you have in life? Are you aware of the guarantee of glory through your predestination? What if we acted as such and did all to honor the glory we have been predestined?

Going into something is not an approach for success or enjoyment. Think about it, how many people do we know that do not like surprises. Even thinking of things this way, surprises are exciting in that time of surprise, but shortly the surprise wears off, there is a sense of what now. Walking this world with Christ is certainly something that I know I do not want to be surprised about. It is good to know what is coming so that I can prepare.

“¹⁷For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” – 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)

I write a good amount of how I am constantly experiencing adversity and making mistakes. We as Christians are not immune to affliction as you can see in the verse above that Paul wrote. My pastor even noted in a sermon that he continues to make mistakes and is trying to figure things out.

“⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” – 2 Corinthians 8-10 (ESV)

Paul is very clear that as Christians, we are not granted the perfect life here in this world. In fact, quite the contrary. We are treated and acted upon likely worse than the rest of the world based on our contrary beliefs that society holds. But as I read verses eight through ten above, I notice that even though I experience the adversity the world gives, I am not out of the love of Christ and His glory. I am being challenged. I am being prepared. I am being refined. I am growing to the point that I will be able to handle the glory that God will bestow on me when I join Him in heaven.

Look back at verse 17 from the beginning of my writing today. The glory of God is heavily weighted. I have to get in the gym and build up to be able to carry it. That gym is life in this world. My workout is the adversity that I endure each day. The sweat I endure today leads to the ability to handle the weight I will carry with Christ in eternity. I must look through the difficulty in this world and see the glory that is forever.

“¹⁸as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV)

Where are you looking for glory? Are you seeking it here in this world? What if you were to look through the things of this world, and understand that they are here to build you up to carry the weight of glory that is eternal?

I have written about earthly and heavenly body glory and now I write of the transformation in glory.

“¹⁸And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

The resurrection transformation and the transformation in glory resemble one another in that it is a heavenly transformation made possible by God. We are to turn to Him even as we walk this world. We accept salvation from Him for our glory and we are granted the glory of heaven as we pass from death to life in Him.

¹⁰Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. ¹⁶But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:10-11 & 16-17 (ESV)

I am a sinner in need of saving and transformation. I will and do find saving and transformation in the glory of the Lord as He hands it over to me with my dedication and followership of Him. As I follow the Lord, I am transformed from this earthly glory that fades and dies with me, to the heavenly glory that only God can and will give to me.

What glory are you more looking for? Are you satisfied with the glory you have here in this world that is dying every day? What if you sought out God and the glory He gives to be transformed?

We have or will have two bodies, earthly and heavenly, and each of them will have their own glory.

“⁴⁰There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.” – 1 Corinthians 15:40 (ESV)

Our earthly bodies are for our time here in this world and at some time will cease to be of any use. Whether that is in death, or as we are taken to heaven at the appointed time. Regardless of the circumstance, that earthly body will no longer serve a purpose. As for our heavenly body, it will be forever. When the time comes for the resurrection, we will take on a heavenly body that will be with us for eternity.

The thing is, that the one body, earthly, leads to the other body, heavenly. We are given this body here in this world by God to use to the fullest and that is the glory that comes. Our full use of the body is the glory that is given for us. Once the earthly body has been used up and dies, we are given another body.

“³⁷And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.” – 1 Corinthians 15:37-38 (ESV)

Each of us has been given a body to use and each of them is different. Each of us will be given our heavenly body that is slightly different than the one of someone else, just as in our earthly body. But the thing that is clear is that we will have a new heavenly body that is used for the glory of God.

“⁴²So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a nature body, there is also a spiritual body.” – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (ESV)

As I look at my own self and compare against Paul’s word here, I have this body here in this world that is only good here in this world. It is a perishable and it is of nature. I will/must wear it out so that it will die in weakness. As I am resurrected to go home to heaven, I will be given my heavenly body, that is forever, powerful, spiritual, and raised in glory to God. My body in this world is only for this world and used for the glory of God in this world. My heavenly body is for eternal glory to God in Heaven.

What are you doing with your body in this world? Are you doing all for the glory of God in this world with the body you have now, intending to wear it out? What if you were to wear it our for the glory of God and upon death and resurrection receive your new eternal body used for the glory of God?

This morning I was not expecting to be looking into God’s Word at a controversial topic, but as always, God has a plan for everything in our lives and it is played out this morning in my study.

“⁷For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.” – 1 Corinthians 11:7 (ESV)

This verse by itself may not seem that controversial and that is a good thing, if you are only looking at the one verse. The passage of verses 1-16 though may be if you are not prepared for it. The passage is speaking of head coverings of men and women. The basics of the passage are that women should have their heads covered and men should not. The controversy is in what is considered equality of men and women. If we are equal, why are there different rules for the different genders. Well, it is complicated, but simple.

First, I want to remind that I am not a biblical scholar, only an ordinary man trying to live my purpose. When you look at the verse and passage, Paul is speaking of the relationship of man to God and woman to man. Verse seven states that man is the “image and glory of God”. I see here that when I look on to man I should see the glory of God shone on them. I also have to remember that in the eyes of God, man and woman are not independent of one another as stated here in verses 11 and 12.

“¹¹Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; ¹²for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.” – 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 (ESV)

Now comes the controversial part.

“³But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and head of Christ is God. ⁴Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, ⁵but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.” – 1 Corinthians 11:3-5 (ESV)

If we are the same in the eyes of God, why are there different approaches to the worshiping of Him. Why would men be disgraceful with covering and women disgraceful without? Well that comes back to verse seven and who you are the glory of, God or man.

Here is my take. Women are by creation, beautiful. So much so that they are a distraction and can be a stumbling block to others. In Romans Paul writes that we should not do that which may cause others to stumble.

“²¹It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” – Romans 14:21 (ESV)

Now this may not be exactly what Paul is referring to with the head coverings, but I can certainly apply it to my study and understanding. Women should have their head covered to bring glory to God and not cause others to be distracted from bringing glory to God either. Women can and should be fully open to their husbands, as they are the glory of them and men should be lifting them up and placing them in the place of glory that they represent.

There is no need for men to cover their heads in worship as it may be considered disgraceful as noted in the comment from my ESV Bible for verse 4, “Roman men sometimes practiced the custom of pulling the loose fold of their toga over their head as an act of piety in the worship of pagan gods.” We are to place ourselves in the position of glory of God that we are in and in the position of worship, we again should do nothing that would cause someone to stumble.

I certainly did not take on this subject to generate any controversy, I was only led here in obedience to God and the study of His Word. We are all equal in God’s eyes, and are in this world to be an example for Him. We are to be “the image and glory of God” in all that we do.

When you are thinking of your relationship to God, where do you see yourself? Are you doing anything that might cause others to stumble? What if we were to be the glory of God as children of Him?

My mission is to “Improve Live Through Growth and Learning as an Example of Christ’s Love”. That mission is not for me, but for those around me. I am to be doing all for them and more importantly for God.

“³¹So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

I have that verse underlined and the following is written below it; “All culminates here with a charge”. That is so true and a great reminder for me. I have been charged with doing all things for the glory of God. Not for myself, or for others, but with Him in mind as I carry out whatever it is that I am doing.

It is hard for me and my human ego to do things without the need for a reward. I struggle each day with the fact that I seem to be working extremely hard to do the work that needs to be done regardless of who’s responsibility it was to complete that action. I seem to do my work and the work of others and what do I get in return, more opportunity to do even more work and what appears to be a lack of appreciation for the work I completed. I have to shake it off and move on. I have to continue to do the work that needs to be done. I have to not think of myself, but think of the work and how that work will glorify God. I have to be God’s tool here in this world to be the example of His love in everything I do. I have to live my mission to the glory of God.

I am only human and will struggle with human things. This is the reason God has opened the curtain to allow me to commune with Him directly. I can speak to Him and seek His guidance. I can study His word and question Him about it, and He will give me what it is He want me to have and know from it. I am to do all for His glory and not the glory I might receive here in this world.

As the verse says, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”. That means all and not just those things that others can see and recognize you for. Whether it is washing the clothes, mowing the grass, speaking to the IT department, personally reaching out to the client, writing multiple reports for others, completing the data collection grid, painting the fence, carrying the water cooler, picking up the trash at the park, or simply praying for someone in need. All of these things could be done to seek the glory from those that would otherwise be tasked with doing them, but should be done to bring glory to God and demonstrate His love for the world around us.

Where have you found yourself doing something for others and seeking the glory for doing that work? Are you finding yourself disappointed that you were not recognized for the work you did? What if you simply did the work to glorify God as opposed to seeking something in return?

Christians have received glory from God. They have accepted salvation offered and given freely thanks to the death and resurrection of Christ. They are blessed to the point of our greatest reward is spending eternity with Him in heaven. They are the chosen of God. But who are the chosen?

“⁴They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. ⁵To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” – Romans 9:4-5 (ESV)

When I read this passage I am taken aback a bit in that it appears that only the Israelites have been chosen to receive God’s glory. And frankly that is not pleasing to me as I contemplate my life, it would seem to explain things. It is not as if I am winning in life. I feel unappreciated and beat down. I feel as though I am just a cog in the wheel and am expected to do the work for all so that they can relax and bask in the glow of accomplishment. But then I read on in God’s Word.

“⁶But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,…²²What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—²⁴even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?” – Romans 9:6 & 22-24 (ESV)

Now I see it. I see that God provides His glory for those that choose Him and accept the salvation He gives freely. Just being in the lineage physically does not lend to the glory of God.

“⁸This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” – Romans 9:8 (ESV)

I have chosen God’s glory and therefore can count myself as one of His offspring. Whether or not I am a physical descendant of Israel does not matter. I have chosen salvation from Him and that is what gives me the glory of God. I may be suffering each day here in this world and doing the work of everyone else, or at least feeling that way, but I do not get my appreciation from this world, but from Him. I am to continue doing the work He has given me and I will be rewarded in heaven.

Who have you chosen? Are you living on the idea that your physical gives you glory? What if you were to choose God and accept His glory, where would you be?

Almost two years ago, I was studying the word “worth” and wrote “Don’t Compare Sufferings with Glory”. I was in the same passage this morning as then, Romans 8:18.

“¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” – Romans 8:18 (ESV)

In my writing previously about this passage I compared suffering to glory and came to the realization that when we cannot do so. You see as we suffer, we are only able to see the suffering and the reward is something that escapes our vision. This morning I am revisiting the passage as I study the word “glory” and realized that my previous writing was spot on with regard to not comparing suffering with glory.

I am not cut out for dealing with suffering I suspect that most are similar. We are human and always looking for the win in life. I don’t want to have to deal with adversity at all. Even though that is the case with me, I have to also remember that God will only allow me to take on or suffer with those things that He knows I can overcome. And that is where this verse is so powerful.

God will allow us to suffer, whether it is failure at some venture, death of loved ones, loss in a competition, or simply the flat tire on the way to the office. He allows us to fail for reasons we are not privy to and that really frustrates us. The thing I have to come back to is the verse above that there is “glory that is to be revealed to us”. We do not know what is in store, we only see what is the now. Maybe the failure at some venture was to reveal that our partners were about to do something illegal and we got out just before. Maybe the death of a loved one revealed some deep illness that would have caused months and years of physical pain for them and they are now released from it. Maybe the flat time on the way to the office delayed us just enough that we were able to avoid the accident on the freeway that happened about the time we would have been in that spot.

You see, we can see the now and God can see the later. Our suffering now may be just the thing to bring us to the glory He has in store for us. We cannot see it now, but we should embrace the suffering and adversity, get through it, and bask in the glory God provides on the other side.

When have you suffered? Were you focused on getting through the adversity or looking to getting it over with to get the reward or on to the next thing? What if you simply tackled the adversity knowing that God will provide the glory on the other side?

Who is responsible for abiding by the law of the land? We are all.

“²²…For there is no distinction: ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” – Romans 3:22b-23 (ESV)

We are all the same in the eyes of God and have all failed as sinners. What makes the difference is our acceptance of the glory of God and the salvation He gave through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

“²⁴and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 3:24 (ESV)

Now how does all of this translate into the abiding by the law? I see it this way. As we have accepted the redemption through salvation, we are tasked with following God. We have been elevated to heirs of God through our faith in Him. God is perfect and therefore does not do those things that are outside of that perfection. As heirs, we should be striving for perfection, and where we will never reach that point, we are to continue to strive for it anyway.

Our faith in God gives us the wisdom to do His will and as He is perfect, then His will is perfect. His will drives us to abiding by Him. When we abide by Him, that gives us no reason or time to do things that are outside of Him. Therefore, when staying inside Him, we are not thinking about breaking the law, only doing his will.

“³¹Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” – Romans 3:31 (ESV)

You see here Paul point out that we may have thoughts to take over and force others to do our will and follow Christ. But, that is not our role. We are to bring the gift of salvation to all and allow them the opportunity to accept that gift and the glory of God. For those that accept, they will join us in following God and will therefore abide in Him and uphold the law. For those that do not accept, they will continue down the same path they are on and will go against the law.

It is with the glory of God that we are brought to the point of upholding the law. We are only to do the will of God and that will keeps us moving in the direction of bringing continued glory to Him.

What are you thoughts on the upholding of the law? Are you responsible for doing so? What if we did not really look to the law and instead looked to bring glory to God, where would we be in accordance to the law?