Grace and Glory

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory—no good thing will He withhold to those who walk uprightly.

Yesterday I blogged about how God is a sun and shield—He provides for me, gives me light and energy, and protects me.  Today is about the grace and glory He gives me—and you.

He Gives His Grace

When I consider the idea of grace—God’s favor directed at me, who in no way deserves it, I think of Ephesians 2:8:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God

The Lord gives grace—unmerited favor—to undeserving folk like myself.  He graciously looked past my sin and invited me to be His child.  This allowed me to be forgiven and then, through the cross, saved.  Through Jesus came the grace that led to eternal life:

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (Luke 1:17.)

Grace came to me because I agreed with God (confessed) that I needed a Savior.  I had to admit my need.  That can be difficult—the ego gets in the way.  But God, says James, gives grace to the humble.  James is quoting Proverbs: 

Proverbs 3:24 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.  Footnote: * Or grace

I didn’t deserve it and I didn’t earn it.  Paul tells the Romans:

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace (Romans 11: 6.)

I couldn’t earn it if I wanted to.  If I worked for it, it wouldn't be grace.  But we can’t be content to just enjoy God’s favor.  We do need to "work out our salvation (Philippians 2.)  We need to grow in Christ. 

But grow in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. --2 Peter 3:18

How would God have us to grow?

By speaking the truth in love we grow up in all things in Christ, who is the head (Ephesians 4:15.)

We need to crave spiritual things, especially to know the Word:

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2.)

Jesus asked that God would make us holy—sanctified:

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17.)

So we must desire the pure milk of the Word of God, growing up into Christ.  We speak the truth of Jesus, we learn in His Word, and as we do, we are made pure (sanctified) by the Word.  The process of growing up in grace leads to receiving more and more of God’s favor.  

He Gives His Glory

I’ve been “in the Lord” (a Christian in practice) for quite a few years now, and I find that God gifts me with His favor as I continue to live out my faith in Him.  He gives me a little of His glory.  It can’t be helped—as I spend time with Him, His glory rubs off on me.  That’s what happened to Moses (see Genesis 34.)  His face shone from being in the presence of God.


David said God was in his life “a shield for me; my glory.”  God’s grace shows on us, just like it did on Moses.  God uses this glory to bind us together.  It’s like a badge or seal.  We can see it on each other’s faces. 

I met my friend Darlene in a coffee shop where she is a waitress.  I could tell by her demeanor that she was a Christian.  Jesus shined in her! 

 

Jesus specifically asked the Father to give us His glory, so that we would be made one. 

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one (John 17:22.)

Several scriptures point to this glory of God on our lives:

We fall short of God’s glory, so that’s why we need Him-

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

As we come to Him in our need, we become His servants, vessels of His, used to display the riches of His mercy so that Jesus will receive glory-

And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, (Romans 9:23.)

Because we’re His, God supplies our every need through His glory-

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19.)

Many “sons” (and daughters!) will be brought to glory-

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10.)

When we are wise (come to God and receive eternal life) we get an inheritance of glory, not shame-

                                 

The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools (Proverbs 3:35.)

And when we share our faith, others can become our glory-

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and our joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20.)

Instead of bragging about (glorying in) sin and the shameful things we once did when we didn’t know our Lord and Savior, we now glory in (brag about) Him!

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that as it is written, "He who glories let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:30-31.)

Church family, let us seek the Lord.  Let us rely on His grace.  Let us glory in Him, and let His glory shine on, and in our hearts.  David wrote of us in Psalm 34:5-

They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.

You don't have to be ashamed.  You don't have to live like the devil.  He tells us there is no way out, but he's a liar and can't be trusted.  Instead, I hope that you will, with me, look to Him and find His favor, His grace, and then become radiant with His love, shining His glory to others.

Dear Abba,

Thank you for the grace and the glory You give as I walk with You.  Thank you for everything that You allow in my life that brings me closer to You.  I ask for more of Your Spirit, that I might honor You more in my life, bringing You more glory.

Love, Your Daughter,

Donna