To God be the Glory

There is a familiar saying that is preached in the "Christian World" that whenever you go through hardship, pain, suffering and loss, that it's all for God's Glory. That God is allowing us to go thru stuff so that when we come out of it (if we do) His name will be glorified and people would look to him Yet I look at people who don't give two cents about God or Jesus and they seem to be doing just fine. And sometimes they even wonder how come these people who call themselves Christians suffer so much and always seem to go through things. These are the same questions I have asked myself. How come......?

There is a popular belief that things happen as a result of consequences of sin. Even though I don't believe that everything that happens that is bad is as a result of consequences, I do believe that this statement is often true. Then someone looking on might say well what kind of God is He that allows His people to repent, forgive them and still have to face the consequences of their actions?

Well this morning I would like to say that God is not a power hungry, Glory seeking, humiliating God. In fact, He would do anything to save us from sin, shame and the consequences of our sins. He allows things to happen not because He wants to say I told you so or simply to bring glory to himself as people would like to say. But I found out 'first hand" that the one thing God desires most is relationship with those He loves.

As we go thru early Genesis, we read of Adam's great responsibility and Eve's indiscretion. What stuck out to me the most was the fact that after Adam and Eve sinned, God came looking for them.He was accustomed to walking and talking with them. He knew where they were and what they did, but He wanted to give them the opportunity to tell Him so that relationship could be restored. He wanted them to be open and vulnerable to to Him again. To restore the highest form of intimacy that children could have with their Father.But instead, Adam and Eve taught us to do what we all do when we have done something wrong, hide ourselves and blame someone else.

I, so many times have had to ask God forgiveness, to take away the sin and the shame. And I have always had a problem when people say it's all for His Glory. God''s Glory doesn't only manifest itself when He fixes our circumstances, it's all around us. He doesn't need us to go through difficulty and pain to show Himself strong, but He allows it to forever show His love for us and to bring us back to Himself. Greater love hath no man than to lay down His life for a friend. He died so that we might live to be in communion with him His plans for us has been formed before the foundation of the earth....long before we were born. Our existance is no mistake. We exist because He loves us....and that's where His Glory manifest itself.

As a parent, it hurts me when I have to discipline my kids....more so arie.....caiden isn't at that age yet...he is still living in our grace....lol. But one thing about young kids is that when you discipline them. the younger they are the faster they fall back into relationship with you, without grudges and things return to normal. I know it's not always the same for teenagers and older children. I used to be one myself. But you long for you kids after they have been discipline to return to that place of fellowship where you could love on them and hug them. That's what it's all about. You yearn to protect them and most parents would give their lives for thier kids. Most spouses would give their lives for each other because of the love they have for each other. How much more so for a God who considers us his children and the church His Bride.

So if you are in a place where you think you cannot be forgiven or loved because of whatever you may have done. Know this .....that God is waiting on you just to call on Him. He'll never turn away from you. If people turned away....they are not God....He'll never turn away. It may seem as if He is silent; sometimes that's because He can't be around sin or He never wants to force us to do things we are not ready to do. I have to constantly go to God and repent cause I'm not near perfect.....but I know He loves me no matter what. And He longs to restore us to Himself. It doesn't matter how many times you go......just go to Him....he'll always receive you but He wants to restore you permanently to Him. So though we declare "God be the Glory for great things He has done'........remember His Glory shines greatest when our relationship with Him is restored and unbroken and when we pass it on to others. What love!