A-Z of Mystery Journal - G - Glory
The meaning of glory has always been illusive to me, a mystery, with a kind of "high & mighty" air to it. When attributed to God, it sounds authentic to me. When applied to humans it seems unnatural, distracting, and self serving. What is it? Why use the word? Since the word shows up in my verse of the year , it seems like a good idea to explore it.
"Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectations of glory.
This mystery of Christ embedded within us becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope
filled with the riches of glory for his people andGod wants everyone to know it."
Colossians 1:27 TPT
The dictionaries say Glory means: honor, praise, worship, fame, brilliant, radiant beauty, dignity, high renown, majesty, splendor, goodness etc.After reading these definitions and synonyms it seems reasonable for glory to feel to "up there." These visual word studies for the A-Z of mystery are challenging to contain a big word, such as glory, on a couple of small pages. I'm finding none of the words can be fully expressed in this small way. I am coming to accept that if I scratch the surface and give a glimpse of the deeper meaning, the work is a success. Looking closer at the word "Glory" has made me look up to God with praise and awe, embracing the mystery of not knowing the full glory, but seeking more as in 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see
and reflect the glory of the Lord.makes us more and more like him
as we are changed into his glorious image."
The notes from The Passion Translation from 2 Corinthians 3:18 help me gain some insight in relating to glory in human terms. It says
"The source of our transformation comes from Christ's glory, and the destination we are brought into is more glory. The transforming glory is a result of gazing upon the beauty and splendor of Jesus Christ."
The only place for me to start comprehending "Glory" is to start with Jesus Christ. It is a foreign thing to me, the source outside myself. Yet when Jesus comes into my life, I become a container for God's glory to be revealed. It doesn't diminish me, but does the opposite, working in me to bring me into who God made me to be and on the journey to fulfilled destiny.
"We re like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within,
so that the extraordinary overflow of power
will be seen as God's not ours."
2 Corinthians 4:7 TPT