Devotional Day 27

Scripture

Ezekiel 1:26-28

Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown.

Isaiah 6:1-7

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Revelation 1:12-18

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,  dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Devotional

God is awesome. His glory is far beyond what you and I could ever comprehend. Read those passages slowly, and attempt to take in the magnificence of what is being communicated. It’s so wonderful to me that this amazing, powerful and awesome God cares so intimately about you and I. I’m reminded of Psalm 8

Psalm 8:3-4

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 

Who are we that God would pay attention to us? that he would care for us? And yet, the Lord tells us that he made us with wonder and fear.

Sometimes, you and I need a good dose of the awe of God. A reminder of his transcendance, his omnipotence, his awesome glory and complete holiness. This contributes to a fear of the Lord because it gives us an insight into the God to whom we are sinning against. Yes God loves us, yes he has stooped down, humbled himself by taking on flesh and blood like you and me, even lowering himself to serve us, and again by taking our punishment on the cross - but the Lord is also glorious in splendour, and mighty in power. Remember in Exodus 20 when God desired to show his glory to Israel at Mt Sinai? He wanted them to also have a revelation of who he was so they would have a tangible memory of the God to whom they were sinning against. A very similar thing happened for the Apostle Paul on the road to damascus:

Acts 9:3-9

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

He had a revelation of the power, majesty and holiness of Jesus, and was changed forever. It’s no wonder Paul was able to endure so much for the gospel and walked so deeply in the fear of the Lord.

James, John and Peter had a similar experience at Jesus’ transfiguration:

Matthew 7:1-6

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

Elijah had similar experiences, so did Moses, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and many others. And the Lord still manifests his glory to people like this today. Witnessing a glimpse of the Lord in his transfigured power and glory does something to us. And we should pursue it. Now don’t be discouraged if you don’t have stories like this, yet I do think it’s something you should pursue. In order to have a real fear of the Lord, we’ve got to have a glimpse, an encounter with his glory.

I’ve had experiences like this, not face to face like Paul, but encounters with Jesus that were so intense and powerful that the glory of the Lord in his appearing has caused me to feel like I would die if I moved - prostrated on the floor by his power and glory. There’s so much deeper to go into the Lord than many Christians even knew was possible. Pursue God, with a hunger for a glimpse of his glory, a marking moment -and you’ll never be the same again. It’s essential to having a fear of the Lord. Pursue his presence, pursue him, don’t settle, be the persistent widow and pursue the Lord until you see him.

Prayer

Spend time in prayer today - extended time, praying and contending for a glimpse. Show me your glory Lord. Show me your face. Humble yourself before the Lord, worship him with heaven’s song: Worthy, Worthy, Worthy. And be persistent. Sometimes these moments happen when the Spirit prompts us to stop what we’re doing and seek the Lord. The bible says that the Lord rewards those who diligently seek him, so listen to the Spirit, seek the Lord and pursue him!