Riches of Glory
Have you unlocked the unique purpose in your life that God has given you to glorify His name?
“The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and made atonement for them to purify them. After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses. The Lord said to Moses, “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.”
Numbers 8:2-3, 11, 15-16, 21-25
Have you ever considered calling yourself a Levite? Maybe you should. The Levites were the people who carried the work of God. Their entire identity was centered on how they performed the work that God called them to do. What is your identity? Often, we define identity based on our worldly responsibilities. What if our identity was spoken to us by God for God's purposes? Consider asking God what He calls you and how you could best glorify Him through what you do?
There was a process that helped prepare them for this work and there is a process that can help prepare us. Purification or another word could be sanctification. The process of forming and conforming our lives to the likeness of Jesus. Purifying your heart and mind starts with being honest about what you are feeding your heart and mind. What are you listening to, reading, meditating on, studying, or receiving in your mind that is getting into your heart? Is any of it not from God or not life giving? What could you remove that could help purify you to prepare you?
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”
Psalms 125:1-2
What does it mean to you to trust in the Lord? It is easy to say the words that you trust God, but where does the rubber meet the road? David learned his kingdom identity of shepherd, warrior, poet, king. When he walked in that identity and worked for the glory of God listening to God's guidance, he was unstoppable. He could not be shaken by fear, circumstances, worry, or enemies.
We can grow in trust. Our actions as they align with God's teaching will demonstrate our trust. What are the easiest places to start to see how you could grow in trusting God? Look at your calendar, look at your checkbook, and look at your comments. How you steward your time, your treasure, and your talents tell the true story of your trust. Where could you take a step of faith in trusting?
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,”
Proverbs 23:4, 10-13, 17-21, 23, 26
Solomon says life is about growing and learning. Wouldn't it take a lot of pressure of us if we stopped comparing who we are or what we have with others? Would it not help if we just focused on achievement as measured by the doing the best we could compared to the best we have done with the gifts we have been given? Humility relying on the hope of glory with a dedicated heart will unlock heaven in your life. Jesus is calling out. My child give me your heart and trust me. I have plans for you to prosper and grow in a way that will give me glory.
“He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen"
Ezekiel 2:1, 5, 7-10
God teaches Ezekiel a simple truth. God is going to evaluate Ezekiel's work based on what Ezekiel does not how others respond. We are not measured by our impact as much as our effort. God calls us to do our best. Love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. God wants us to trust Him with outcomes as He measures our hearts. Where have you allowed others to impact your effort? What is the next right thing that you know you could do that would honor God?
“It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory"
Romans 9:15-16, 20-21, 23, 30-32
When Paul says it to begin this passage, he is saying the outcomes. The outcomes of anything do not depend on your effort but on God's mercy. God's ways, His thoughts, His plans are higher than ours. He sees the big picture that He created. He knows how things begin and how they end. We live in a world that wants to question everything. Questions are great and God welcomes them, but there comes a time where we have to live by faith.
We have to make a choice. We have to have confidence that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion. We have to trust the Potter and thank Him for how is using our best efforts to mold us into an object of mercy that glorifies Him daily. The beauty of this is that it takes the pressure off us. God gives us freedom to live out each day, doing the best we can for today, and trusting Him with the next day. You were made to glorify God uniquely with the gifts you have been given and to grow into the likeness of His son. Are you ready? It all begins with hearing His voice and trusting Him as He says my son, my daughter, give me your heart. Will you give it to Him today?