There is a magnetic pull, especially for men, to long for glory. The boy in the yard with his football imagines himself throwing the winning touchdown for the Super Bowl. This longing for glory doesn’t leave as we mature into manhood. Instead, it seeks it in academic degrees, promotions at work, esteem from colleagues, or a yacht collection.
Seeking for glory is not wrong. In fact, you were made for glory. The problem is that, due to sin, we seek glory in our shame. Glory is not found in the skyscrapers of the Tokyo business district, or in the halls of Congress, or in viral Social Media accounts.
The Psalmist gives us the path to glory. He instructs us with this truth: “Surely [the Lord’s] salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land (Psa 85:9).” If you desire glory to dwell in the midst of our land it begins with the salvation that comes from bending the knee to Almighty God.
If your life has felt like a slog recently, and glory is the last thing you would describe your life as a good question to ask yourself is whether you are walking in the fear of the Lord. Have you allowed grumbling to be the undertone of your conversations? Have you allowed your contempt for others to bubble at a low simmer? Have you been rejoicing in evil, and resenting righteousness? Have you gotten good at hiding sin? Well then, glory will not dwell with you. It will elusively remain just past your fingertips.
Therefore, bend yourself before God. Bow before His every Word. Study to put all His commands into practice. Confess your sin. Forsake your evil ways. Break your vile habits over your knee. And then, know that the Lord’s glory shall rest in the land.
Prayer of Confession
You have made us for Yourself, and though man is made lower than the angels, You have crowned him with glory & honor. Yet we, through sin, have turned our glory into shame, our honor into damnation. Lord grant us humility, to bend low before You. Give us grace to see the truth about ourselves in light of Your Word, and then grant that might confess the truth about ourselves to You. And then, as You have promised, let Your glory dwell in the land.
You have called Your church to truth in the inward parts, so we now confess our individual sins to You. Selah.
We do this in Jesus’ mighty name, and Amen.
A Final Word
You’ve knelt to confess your sins, humbling yourselves in the dust of repentance. Now, God delights to crown You with this glorious word: “Your sins are forgiven through Christ.”
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