“The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” —Psalm 19:1
What is the glory of God? Our scriptures are full of references to it. The Lord’s Prayer we offer every Sunday ends with: “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.” But how do we understand God’s glory? And how might that understanding enliven our faith?
A conversation about the glory of God starts with the holiness of God, that God is utterly unique in every characteristic: God is perfectly good unlike anything or anyone else in all creation, God is unmatched in greatness, and God is the ultimate expression of love.
We next think about God’s glory as being so magnificent, almost too much for our eyes to take in. Remember how Moses looked as he descended Mt. Sinai after meeting with God; his face shown so brightly as he carried with him the afterglow of God’s glory. It actually made the people afraid, so Moses put a veil over his face whenever he left God’s presence. (Exodus 34:29-35)
Finally, we imagine the glory of God as the expression of God’s invisible qualities in a visible and awe-inspiring way. When we see a majestic sunrise or the northern lights, we often exclaim, “Isn’t that glorious!” For we most often see the glory of God in the things God has created: nature, the heavens, or the face of someone we love.
There is far too much ugliness and cruelty in the world. And God’s people are called to face it, to name it for what it is, and to act against it. But facing that ugliness and cruelty can drag down our spirits and cause us to fear that all is lost and our efforts meaningless. That is why we look for beauty wherever we can find it. That is why we search for signs of God’s glory. Because God’s glory is, indeed, forever, and the love of our good and great and faithful God will one day triumph over all cruelty and hatred.
Friends, let me encourage you this month to especially search for the glory of God. Wake up early and catch a breathtaking sunrise. Take a friend for a hike in nature. See the beauty of every face you encounter. Stop by Gallery Immanuel after worship and be inspired by the photographs taken by Liz Sellars (above). And let these experiences call to mind the glory of God.
Like Moses, may our faces shine radiant with the glory of God, proclaiming hope to our world.
Grace upon grace,
Pastor Scott
