The Glory of the Lord
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 Chronicles 7:1
I read this devotional on Saturday morning and thought it would be a good one for this beautiful fall Lord’s Day:
The glory of the Lord is His presence. When God occupies a place, His glory is unmistakably evident! God has high standards for where He will make His presence known. He does not respond to our whims or come on our terms.
Solomon longed for God’s presence to be obvious in the temple that he had painstakingly built for Him. Solomon had spared no expense or effort in building this magnificent temple as a house for the Lord. Yet he understood that constructing a spectacular building was no guarantee that God would choose to inhabit that place.
So Solomon prepared HIMSELF and the people in the hope that God would look down upon them with favor. The priestly choir sang and played instruments in reverent praise to God (2 Chronicles 5:11-14). The priests sacrificed so many animals on the altar that they could not count them (2 Chronicles 5:6). Solomon prayed and when he finished, fire came down from heaven and consumed the offering. The glory of the Lord filled the temple! God’s glory was so overpowering in Solomon’s temple that the priests could not carry on their normal activities (2 Chronicles 7:2).
There is no mistaking when God inhabits a place. God’s glorious presence fills a place, and it is impossible to carry on business as usual!!! The New Testament teaches that OUR LIVES are temples because Christ abides in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). We cannot assume by this that our lives are pleasing to Him like Solomon, we must thoroughly prepare ourselves so that God will choose to reveal His presence in our lives. When He does, there will be now doubt that it is God!
from Experiencing God – The Devotional by Henry Blackaby (Broadman)
As I read this devotional the thought that came to my heart was this – we often come to church expecting God to fill the “temple” with His glory. We are the church – we are His temple – if we want to experience the presence of God in our CORPORATE worship – we need to be sure that He is filling US – His temple with His glory. If we all showed up to church in this way – just think what might happen for HIS GLORY! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
Compass Pointers: The more we trust, the more reasonable we find it to trust.
George Macdonald
Anchored to the Rock: Prayer should be fundamental , not supplemental. William J. C. White
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