Focus: A Glorious Life!

Text: Jh.1:14

"We beheld HIS GLORY."

The opposite of glory is shame. Life is designed to be gloriously lived, not shamefully lived. Jesus, from birth to death, lived a glorious life. His whole life was wrapped in glory. He was truly and utterly human, but the glory upon Him was totally divine. John says of Jesus, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (Jh.1:14). John is saying, 'He lived among us as one of us, but the glory we saw glowing from Him is extraordinary. It is indeed the exceptional glory of one uniquely born of God.' In other words, He was hundred percent a human being, but the aura that oozed from Him was surely divine. John says, "We BEHELD his glory." 

There's something of God in all of us, but whether we live to manifest it or not is a different matter. We all carry glory inside of us, and your world is waiting for the unveiling of your glory. John testifies of seeing the glory of Jesus. My prayer is that people in your neighborhood will testify of also seeing your glory. May you never die with your glory still inside of you! You are human, but there is an aura of divinity about you. Every human being has a heavenly glory to manifest. Your glory will make your world wonder.

At a wedding in Cana of Galilee Jesus turned water into wine, and John reports, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and MANIFESTED FORTH HIS GLORY…" (Jh.2:11). A man of glory is capable of doing the miraculous. Put water in his hands, and he will transform it to wine. Little amounts to much in the hands of someone who has glory residing in him. Jesus worked miracles, the first of which was turning water into wine, and by it He turned around a shameful situation. He manifested forth His glory by His deeds. 

Everywhere Jesus goes, His glory shines. People find themselves in the presence of divinity. He exudes excellence and radiates majesty.

Jesus led a life of glory. From His birth to His death people glorified God because of Him.

*His birth

Luke writes, "And the shepherds returned, GLORIFYING and PRAISING God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them" (Lk.2:20). Right from birth people were already glorifying God. His birth announced the arrival of divine glory in the human environment.

*His life

Luke reports, "And he taught in their synagogues, being GLORIFIED of all" (Lk.4:15). People glorified Him for His words. They held Him in high esteem. They wondered at Him. They found themselves standing in front of incredible majesty.

Again, Luke declares, "And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, GLORIFYING God" (Lk.5:25). A man suffering from paralysis goes home healed and glorifying God because of Jesus.

Luke continues the story, "And they were all AMAZED, and they GLORIFIED God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day all" (Lk.5:26). Those who witnessed the miracle also glorified God.

Elsewhere the story continues, "And there came a fear on all: and they GLORIFIED God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people" (Lk.7:16). Through His works Jesus resurrected the people's hope. Now they could believe and hope again.

Luke declares, "And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and GLORIFIED God" (Lk.13:13). A woman bent over could now stand upright, totally healed and giving glory to God.

Here's another testimony as reported by Luke: "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice GLORIFIED God, And fell down on his face at his feet, GIVING THANKS: and he was a Samaritan" (Lk.17:15,16). Apart from thanking Jesus, the healed leper glorified God who was behind it all.

Let's add one more testimony from the pen of Luke. "And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, GLORIFYING God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave PRAISE unto God" (Lk.18:43). A blind man receives his sight and glorifies God because of Jesus. All the people who witnessed the miracle also joined in praising God.

*His death

Luke says, "Now when the centurion saw what was done, he GLORIFIED God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man" (Lk.23:47). The Roman centurion, who witnessed how Jesus died, glorified God for Him. He saw something about His death that was divine. The centurion knew that His death was different. Jesus died like no other. His death meant redemption for humanity.

From the birth of Jesus to His death you could see how people glorified God because of Him. People felt, saw, heard, and touched God through Him. He brought glory down from heaven, and for the first time in a long while, people could see the glory of God, and even touching it. He possessed and manifested glory in His life. His words and works caused people to glorify God. He led a life in which God's glory was visible and tangible.

I pray that we live for glory, not for shame and ignominy. There is glory in your soul. Manifest it wherever you are or go. If you truly possess it, then manifest it for the world to see and glorify God. Don't live or die in vain. Live in such a way that men will look at or hear of you, and say, 'Glory to God in the highest!'

by Bishop Moses E. Peter