July 30, 2010 Reflect God’s Glory
Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 60; Isaiah 61; Isaiah 62; John 1 (The Message)
Scripture Focus:
Isaiah 60: 1–3 “Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.
God’s bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.
Isaiah 60:21–22 They’re the green shoot that I planted,
planted with my own hands to display my glory.
The runt will become a great tribe,
the weakling become a strong nation.
I am God.
At the right time I’ll make it happen.”
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
Observation:
The glory and splendor of God is often described as light and contrasted with the darkness and night of the world. God’s people reflect God’s glory, and that is what attracts others to us:
“But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.”
My purpose in life is to display God’s glory:
“They’re the green shoot that I planted,
planted with my own hands to display my glory.”
Jesus was God’s glory in flesh and blood so people could actually see what God was like:
“The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son.
Application:
I can only reflect God’s glory when I’m looking at God, focused on him. It’s not about me. It’s about him. Letting his light shine through me. Letting his love shine through me. Then, and only then, will I be a true reflection of God’s glory and display that glory to the nations around me.
Prayer:
Father God, today is my day to shine—to reflect your glory. Keep my focus on you!
Scripture Focus:
God’s bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.
planted with my own hands to display my glory.
The runt will become a great tribe,
the weakling become a strong nation.
I am God.
At the right time I’ll make it happen.”
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
“But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.”
“They’re the green shoot that I planted,
planted with my own hands to display my glory.”
“The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son.
