September 6: DETERMINING TO GLORIFY GOD
…saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgement has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Revelation 14:7
God often allows disappointments to show us that the “glitter” of our world as it is now, is not really so “sparkly” after all. Yet, the redirection of our attention toward Him enables us to look into faces around us and see . . . Ah! – potential here! And there! We begin to see others as He sees them… with potential fufilled. Part of our sanctification, which progresses as we abide in Him, manifests in reflecting Him like a mirror into the lives of beloved family and friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even strangers. Some of them may also see in us a potential that we cannot… But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). This transformation, from glory to glory, requires co-operation with the Lord. When we determine, as free agents, to give glory to Him, there will be no shortage of those around us (including and especially our own natural senses) who stumble over the lack of logic. But those who, in persevering, learn to trust Him over and above their own senses will find that following Jesus is the most logical thing of all.
Ellen White wrote: “He who determines to enter the spiritual kingdom will find that all the powers and passions of an unregenerate nature, backed by the forces of the kingdom of darkness, are arrayed against him. Selfishness and pride will make a stand against anything that would show them to be sinful. We cannot, of ourselves, conquer the evil desires and habits that strive for the mastery. We cannot overcome the mighty foe who holds us in his thrall. God alone can give us the victory.”
When we invite Him into our hearts, He at once justifies our past sins and clothes us with His own righteousness—and we are saved. But sooner or later we encounter an emissary of the enemy who declares: “Yes, you are saved. There is nothing to do, and no need to honor God’s law, which is impossible to keep anyway. Christ’s righteousness has you covered.” But, beloved, He came into our world to lead us, by grace, onto the road of sanctification – to graciously bring us into alignment with the heavenly principles, leaving worldly principles behind. His death on the cross completely paid the penalty for the broken law, but we are not to deliberately continue breaking it (see Hebrews 3:13-14; 6:4-6; 10:26,29; 2 Peter 2:20-22). His life demonstrates that a love relationship with the Father renders it possible for a human to honor heaven’s law (see Romans 8:3-4). Ellen White continues: “He desires us to have the mastery over ourselves, our own will and ways. But He cannot work in us without our consent and co-operation. The divine Spirit works through the faculties and powers given to man. Our energies are required to co-operate with God.”
Those who have been transformed by the gospel are divinely enabled to fulfill this commission of Jesus:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Quotes from Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing by Ellen G. White