Beholding His Glory

Beholding His Glory

Recently I returned home from a mission project in Uganda, Africa.  Honestly is was a very blessed project.  We touched a lot of lives both physically and spiritually.  The team was touched and their world was changed.    It was a mountain top experience you might say.

On Sunday one of the missionaries we had worked with and grown to love gave a few parting words.  In those words he gave some very wise words of admonition.  He was talking to the church but addressed the team.  He knowledged the fact that God had moved, and that our hearts were full of the presence of God.  I believe he could sense that the team had been spiritually refreshed.  But then he gave this word of warning:  “Remember when you step off the plane the people  at home will have buckets of water to throw on you.”

That reminded me of a Bible passage.  Over in Exodus 34 Moses was in the presence of Almighty God.  While he is there the  Shekinah Glory of God covers his face.   When he comes down off the mountain his face is so bright that the people cannot look  at him.

However so, something is going to happen.  The glory of God in his life was going fading.   The people of God were at the bottom of the mountain to “throw cold water” in his face.    Maybe you can relate.  Think about a time in your life when you were so close to God you just knew God’s presence and glory had been revealed.  Do you remember how you felt?  Once you taste and see the glory of God, you never forget it, you will always talk about it, and you will do whatever you can to see it again!

Our mission team has come home and in may ways I to can say, the water was not thrown in my face, but poured on my head.   This week as I think about what God wants for me and from me I am challenged to do whatever necessary to  once again become familiar with the Glory of God!

I realize that we cannot live our lives on the mountain.   But those mountain tops change the landscape of the land.   Those mountain tops are a beautiful testimony of god’s grace and work in our lives and serve as a source of strength and hope for us to life and work and serve.

What is the key?  Here is the difference for us today:  In Christ, our glory does not diminish, but grows.    That is true if we keep on beholding or keep on reflecting. So, as I continue to behold Christ, His reflection becomes brighter, and clearer in my life.

Often times our glory fades when we fail to behold HIS GLORY!    So the really lesson I am left to learn is this:   The more I focus on spending time with Jesus the more I will enjoy the Glory of God!!