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Bible study, faith, Glory, God, Holy Spirit, words
GLORY – What is it?
If you read my introductory post on January 16th, welcome back!
It’s time for a word study.
I love words. Just ask my kids or anyone that knows me very well. I talk fast, often and long. I know, that is not always a good thing. We all have our blessings and our curses and sometimes one trait or gift can be both. We just have to realize we are not yet perfected; take the good with the bad and hopefully learn to tip the scales properly as we progress on our journey.
Today, I want to share my study on the word GLORY. As I mentioned earlier, we often use words without stopping to consider their deeper meanings. And yes, I’ve been guilty of receiving information or making assumptions before personally researching the facts. Later, I find myself silently embarrassed that I’d shared things that weren’t quite right. Remember – work in progress – all of us. Enough of the rambling – time for glory!
The Hebrew word “kabhodh” of the Old Testament
It is derived from the root kabod meaning heavy or very important. It is often attributed externally to the characteristics of wealth, pomp and importance of those in power; kings and leaders. It is also attributed to their dignity or the honor due them in accordance with high positions.
Kabhodh is primarily the characteristics of Yahweh; the One true God, the highest power of all. It is a bit overwhelming to consider all this encompasses – His presence, His beauty, His nature, His wrath, His jealousy for us and in that respect even our possession of His Spirit in us. Glory is God and it is our possession of Him and His possession of us. He is our glory and we are His.
His desire is to be one with us; to live in us and through us. Glory is the physical manifestation of God’s Divine presence.
Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you…. And I shall glorify My glorious house. Isaiah 60:1-2, 7
In ancient Israel the temple was God’s house, but today those who have accepted Him as Lord are His house. Then He glorified the temple, today He glorifies us – He LIVES in us!
Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us?” James 4:5
The Greek word, doxa of the New Testament
The original meaning of this word is belief or opinion, which is where we get the word orthodoxy, but when it was translated in the New Testament it transitioned from meaning a belief system to describing splendor or a majestic state; the light and splendor of God. It is His beauty, His radiance – something we will not fully behold until His Kingdom eternal.
The definition that really excites me is the Greek verb kauchaomai; meaning to boast, to rejoice, to take pride in. I love that kauchaomai calls us into action; to boast in the Lord, to rejoice in Him, and to take pride in Him. Sounds great doesn’t it! But think about this…
What do we boast about? What do we rejoice in? Where do we place our overflowing pride? As fleshly beings I think we often find it easier to scream support at our kids’ sporting events than praise God publically. We tend to put all kinds of stickers on our bumpers proclaiming the things we take pride in: kids, schools, sports teams, organizations, beliefs – yet – how often do we stop and think twice before telling our co-workers, friends or even family about our amazing God and all He desires for us during this short journey on earth?
Trust me, I’m not criticizing – just saying, because I am guilty too – BUT – we shouldn’t be living this way.
Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house — whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. Hebrews 3:5-6
What a man, what a servant, what a testimony of God’s glory!
God’s majestic splendor; all that He is, all that He gives us, all that we are because He is our God, our Lord, our Father. How can we not live in and through His glory. If He is truly in us, then we cannot help but embrace His glory and extend His grace.
May we hold fast, be confident, boast of our hope in Him and remain firm until the end.
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Paul said:
Love the new blog and the audacious picture. Romans 8:18: “I consider that the sufferings of this present age–are to be avoided?no!–not worthy to be compared with the GLORY that is to come!