May 7

“…then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:4

There is more to the Christian’s life, than what transpires while we are here on earth. There is a great and powerful spiritual dimension, yet this remains unknown or largely forgotten and disregarded. The Apostle reminds here believers that our main interest and focus in life should not be on material, temporal things. Our ‘affections’, that is our love for, what attracts us and what makes us contented, should be found in Jesus. He is our life and the flow in which we move, plan and live our lives. We are also reminded that soon Jesus will return, He will ‘appear’, that is He will manifest Himself and He will judge the world. In that day nothing of the material, temporal realm will matter at all. Only what we have built by way of a spiritual life, a relationship with Him will be significant. We are encouraged by this exhortation to take note and stock of our lives. Where do our main interests lay? What do we spend our time with? Where are our energies mostly invested? We are to be people whose desire for this world is disabled, and whose lives are a living sacrifice to the Lord! This is the condition and the necessity if we are to appear with Jesus, that is, be at His side, the winning side, the side of right, power and glory at His coming! Nothing and no-one in this world is an adequate trade-off for the eternal life and the position we can fill at the Lord’s side. Let us carefully weight out and carry the responsibility of our Christian calling, for it is a high and glorious call from the Holy God!

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May 5

“…the fire came down from heaven…and the glory of the LORD filled the house.” 2 Chronicles 7:1

God demonstrates His commendation of His people’s actions and faithfulness, in many different ways. The common denominator in all of them is the blessings He gives by His presence and glory, as the reality and power of His Spirit and holiness becomes manifest in their lives. The instance in our text is a sublime example of God’s pleasure being expressed and visited on Solomon as in faith and obedience, he established the temple for the worship of Yahwah, in Jerusalem. A similar manifestation of God, took place when the tabernacle was dedicated by Moses in the wilderness. In both cases, God marked His approbation, by sending a fire from heaven, which consumed the sacrifices. The response from the people in both cases, was to fall on their faces in honour and worship to the Lord, as they saw the might power of His glory, and experienced the touch of His presence and the perfection of His holiness! It is an occasion for great rejoicing among God’s people when such blessing and visitation from God takes place. We are so privileged to live in a time when God’s Spirit indwells us as believers, making us, our beings, the very temple of God and His abode! What an honour to know and feel God so intimately and personally! We may not see the fire fall down from heaven and burn up the offering physically, but we can experience the fire from heaven just the same, spiritually. The effect is alike and the glory of the Lord is identical. He still wants to show His approval of those who faithfully consecrated their temple to Him and for His use; those who regularly offer themselves on the altar of prayer and worship; those who treasure the presence of the Lord and desire His holiness so much that they go about as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God! God is still the same, loving, caring, blessing and enriching God, willing to show and give more of His strength, wisdom and provision, to any faithful servant who will serve Him and by faith please Him. God is faithful, He wants to bless, He desires to commend and longs to reward. He has not changed in His desire, but have we changed in ours? When was the last time, fire from heaven purified your soul, and God’s glory filled your temple?