Glory upon glory!

At church tonight we were challenged to examine our lives. Are we living differently than the world? Are we focused on Jesus, or does the distraction of me garner my attention?

Throughout the Bibe we see a call to being different. Usually that means outing others above ourselves. Don’t you think we are told to love others like ourselves because we are too experienced in looking out for our needs and wants?

Today’s verse selection is 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What a selfless prayer. In this season of growth, imagine how much closer to God we would be if we prayed like Paul. Love. It’s overflowing in this prayer. Love of Jesus. Love of the family in Christ. How much richer would our church relationships be if we earnestly lifted up each other like this?

It’s not a lightweight prayer made in passing. This is a bold prayer for sanctification of the saved. How could we grumble about or be irritated by one who we are lifting up in prayer to be glorified in Jesus? If we are constantly asking the Lord to make each other worthy, wouldn’t we all be living in the fruition of God’s power? 

And Jesus would be glorified. It’s all about Jesus. The love and glory. His goodness and our sanctification. I think people would know we are different because our words and affections would not be of this world. There would be peace beyond measure as the Lord works in our deire for goodness. There would be joyful service as our good deeds by faith are brought forth in our busy days. 

If we really want to see God working in our world, we need to be praying for worthy kingdom workers fueled by God’s power. As we think of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, let’s follow Paul’s example of love and flood the Lord with our prayers for his people. This will just exponentially increase his glory. He is glorified, then we are glorified in him, and we give him more glory, and he glorifies us even more in him. 

It’s a big ole glory bonfire that grows and shines light and warmth to draw others close, fueled by the grace of Jesus. Talk about being close to God when our prayers are for the church reflecting his glory!