Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 8: 2 Chronicles 5; Psalms 99; Romans 3
God’s presence is so all-consuming that if you invite Him in, eventually there won’t be much left of you.
And that’s a good thing! (John 3:30)
I’ve heard it so often in church altar calls and in one-on-one conversations, when believers are introducing Jesus to their friends: “why don’t you add Jesus to your life, just try Him, what have you got to lose?” Well, let me tell you – everything! Our readings today give us just a glimpse into the glory of God, and His presence is so all-consuming that if you invite Him in, eventually there won’t be much left of you. You can’t add Him to the mix; He will take over! You can’t just try Him; there’s no turning back! If you think you have nothing to lose, you haven’t got a clue what real discipleship is all about!
Today we read about the “shekinah glory” that filled the House of God: Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God….When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it (2 Chron. 5:13,14; 7:1,2).
This was not just a warm and fuzzy moment, a soft, sentimental stirring of the heart that brings a wistful tear to the eye. This was a visible, tangible, awe-inspiring encounter with the glory of the God who spoke the universe into existence. It was like Moses and his fear-filled, face-glowing meeting with God on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24:15-18). It was like the transfiguration of Jesus that so terrified Peter, James and John they did a face plant into the side of the mountain (Matt. 17:6). It was just a glimpse into a heaven that radiates light without a sun or moon - the glory of The Son shines into every corner of our future home (Rev. 21:22,23). No wonder the psalm today reads: The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake (99:1)!
“Lord, I was reminded of the consequences of my sin today and how I have fallen short of the glory of God, but I was also ecstatic to read how I’ve been justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (3:23,24). Your awe-inspiring glory is now resident in my body, Your Temple, because of what Jesus did for me. May I never take Your grace or Your glory for granted!”
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