Hope of Glory

 "God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory.."  -Colossians 1:27
 
 What is this Hope of Glory…Christ in us? God is glory, God deserves all the glory. The very birth, death and resurrection of Jesus was to bring Glory to God the father. What is it that would bring the Father such glory?  That his very created beings made in his image would be restored unto him.  In Isaiah 43:7 God says, “I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman, and child Whom I created for my glory, yes, personally formed and made each one.'" He made us for his glory!
 
 The struggle comes when we who have received this blood gift of reconciliation forget our purpose and identity. We who walk with Christ have been given the deposit of the Holy spirit. This is the living God, Christ in us. But we honor him not. We choose to believe lies over the truth. The lie that we will never be good enough, pretty enough, brave enough etc. We work on the outward and focus on the flesh but what if we gave our attention to the Holy one who lives in us? If we bring glory to the Father when we do as Jesus and become one with Him just as he is at one with the father, then let us place our gaze on becoming one with the son. How do we become one? We start by believing who we were created to be. We can grab hold of the promises as in 2 Peter 1:3-4, “Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.  As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises[ you can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.”
 
 The triune God resides in us and speaks to us, are we listening to that voice? 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”. In our prayer time let us focus on the parts that we recognize as holy and good and worthy, the parts of us that have already been transformed. The mixing of those parts of us that we like and are at peace with are, many times, the very parts that reflect the nature of Jesus. This process of being transformed into his likeness is a surrendering but it is also embracing the lovely parts of ourselves. This Christian walk often feels like we must either pretend to be something we are not or deny our true selves. But what if it is more like a melding of what makes us, us, with the holy spirit? Those desires as a child to just run up and hug someone or perhaps the inclination to protect others, these come from a place that is uniquely you. Our Father in heaven enjoys his creation and calls it good. Who are we to reject his creation? Yes, we have areas under construction, wounds and ungodly beliefs that block our view but instead of focusing on these we can choose to honor how he has created us individually.  Instead of comparing ourselves and seeing lack, see instead Christ in you Hope of Glory.

Here are some verses to meditate on...
 
Psalm 8:3-6 (CEV)
3 I often think of the heavens
    your hands have made,
    and of the moon and stars
    you put in place.
4 Then I ask, “Why do you care
    about us humans?
    Why are you concerned
    for us weaklings?”
5 You made us a little lower
    than you yourself,[a]
    and you have crowned us
    with glory and honor.
6 You let us rule everything
    your hands have made.
And you put all of it
    under our power—
 
Psalm139:3-6 From the Passion Translation
 
"You are so intimately aware of me, Lord.
You read my heart like an open book
and you know all the words I’m about to speak
before I even start a sentence!
You know every step I will take before my journey even begins.
5 You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way,
and in kindness you follow behind me
to spare me from the harm of my past.[a]
With your hand of love upon my life,
you impart a blessing to me.
6 This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible!
Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength." 
 
Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

1 Peter 4:10-11
"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another."

-Dale Cupo, RCC Prayer Ministry Leader