Glory To Glory!

Glory! Receiving it may either encourage or puff up. Where the glory ultimately rests is important to consider. Looking at the life of the Apostle Paul we may note a transition in his focus on glory. He had a rich heritage of which any Jew would have been proud. In Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi he noted some of the things in which he at one time gloried with regard to himself.

We read…
“(4) though I myself have reason for CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: (5) CIRCUMCISED ON THE EIGHTH DAY, OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, of the TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, A PHARISEE; (6) as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to RIGHTEOUSNESS, UNDER THE LAW BLAMELESS.” ( Philippians 3:4-6 ESV)

Truly a “Hebrew of Hebrews.” When Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, he brought up his position among the Jews as having been “of the strictest party” of their religion as a Pharisee. ( Acts 26:5) He also had a notable education in which he had at one time gloried, having been educated in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel ( Acts 22:3) from which the stage was set for Paul to advance in Judaism beyond many of his own age. ( Galatians 1:14) However, the glory of that -- though He viewed himself as being very zealous for God ( Acts 22:3) -- led Paul to work against the Will of God ( Acts 26:9-11) until he saw the light while on the road to Damascus. ( Acts 9) Then, Paul’s focus of glory changed. The focus moved away from his heritage of the flesh to the true glory made possible IN CHRIST!

In the previous verse of the Philippian passage noted above, we read…
“(3) For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS and put NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH--” ( Philippians 3:3 ESV)

Then to the Galatians he wrote…
“(14) But far be it from me to boast [or glory] EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” ( Galatians 6:14 ESV)

Paul (as Saul) had moved from glorying in the flesh to glorying in THE CHRIST! From self-glory to true GLORY IN CHRIST! Where do we find ourselves in this picture? If we have advantages of heritage and education are we glorying in self, or are we GLORYING IN CHRIST in Whom whatever advantage we may have had can be magnified for His purpose and praise? With a focus away from self and continually on Christ and the blessings that are ours because of Him, we have the opportunity to move from glory to even greater GLORY IN HIM!

Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul encouraged…
“(18) 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.” ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

From self-glory to GLORY IN CHRIST to INCREASING GLORY in the transforming process of becoming more and more like Christ. Any glory we have linked solely to the flesh will be relatively short lived. May our focus not fall short, but instead GLORY IN CHRIST and HIS CROSS through which we have been provided the means of moving toward true glory that lasts eternally.

Have a great day ALLOWING THE CONTINUED TRANSFORMATION OF FOCUS AND LIFE!
Carl

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