The Supremacy of God's Glory

I am overwhelmed by the deep, deep love of God for mankind. Each glimpse of His glory makes sweeter the knowledge that I am His, and He is mine. Today we first saw God's glory in Exodus 40. How marvelous it is that God's wants to dwell among mankind! How wonderful that He gave command to Moses to build a tabernacle which would be, for a time, the receptacle of His glory! What a great moment it must have been when the tabernacle was erected and then the people saw the glory of the Lord fill that place. Then to live with that glory in your midst, actually in the middle of the camp. To watch it rise up and then to settle down - to be a people that follows the glory of God all the days of your life. How loving is God to be present among His people in this way! But there is another dimension of glory we saw today that is even more remarkable. We saw the Son of God mount a cross - not for anything He had done - but because of His great love for us. He willingly laid down His life (He made that clear to Pilate), took upon Himself human sin, and received the stroke due our rebellion. What love and what glory! We learn so much about God from the cross. So much of His character shines out (glory) from the cross - His hatred for sin, but the depth of His mercy, grace and love. God be praised for these glimpses of His matchless character! That's why I believe when Paul contemplated this glory, he felt the glory of man so inconsequential. He did have a lot of things to glory in - he had a great education, great birth line, and impeccable practice of his religion. But when he compared that glory to the glory of Christ, he thought it unworthy of the comparison. He said that he counts all things that bring him glory, and thus detract from the glory of Christ, to be like horse manure - refuse - garbage. There was only one glory worth knowing and pursing, and it was the glory of Christ. Paul wanted to know this glory - to bask in its light and to be transformed by it. He wanted to be a man who knew only one thing, and it was the glory of Christ crucified. That should be the pursuit of every Christian - pursuing the knowledge of the supreme glory of our great God and His Son, Jesus Christ. May we all this day, lay down human glory, and all that detracts from the knowledge of the Savior, and pursue with our all, the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. As Paul says, Oh to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, sharing in His sufferings, become like Him in His death.