Day #341 - Glory Revealed
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
”A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”“
Isaiah 40:3-5 NIV
Have you ever met someone and had a certain sense of who they are, but discovered there was so much more to them than you originally thought?
When I was asking a mentor and eventual fellow minister, Scott Smith, one time about my girlfriend (who is now my wife), he told me there was so much more inside of her that was going to blossom over time. You see, I had been inquiring about Grace to Scott because he knew her for a long time. I was trying to figure out if she was the right one for me. I knew what he said was true. She was the most beautiful, joyful, encourager I had ever met. I have discovered over the years that her talents, gifts and abilities far exceeded even what I knew about her when we were married. She has exceeded all of my high expectations in every way.
Isaiah prophesies about one who will come before the Lord and prepare the way for His coming. He will be a prophetic voice. This verse would be fulfilled in John the Baptist. He came before Jesus. This prophecy from Isaiah seems to be two fold and have implications for Jesus first coming and second coming. Isaiah said that “the glory of the Lord will be revealed” and it was in some form in Jesus first coming but His second coming will be the fullness of God’s glory revealed. There is so much more to this child being born than what first appeared.
When Jesus came born on Christmas Day, His glory was revealed through the shepherds, when He was seen in the temple by Simeon and Anna, and when He was a child to the magi who visited Him. But this humble baby born to a faithful Jewish couple would literally alter the landscape of human history. His incarnation meant the beginning of events that would lead to His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and return. Jesus coming will mean that valleys are raised, mountains are brought low and rough and rugged places made smooth.
Jesus revealed “the Presence,” the glory of God. His presence, or glory, revealed in His birth and life events will be an increasing glory that fully culminates upon His return. In His first coming, God was present among us and He remains present by His Spirit. But when He comes again, we will experience His presence forever and this will establish a new order for the world that is ruled by our King who makes all wrong things right.
Lord Jesus, You have come, You will come again. How I long for Your return. Your glory has been revealed, but I want to know Your glory more and more. You will make all wrong things right. I look forward and pray for the day when You will reveal Your glory in all Your fullness when You come again. In your great name, amen!
Show us you glory Lord. We yearn for you! 🙏🏻♥️