Acknowledge the Glory In You

Daily Devotional: Day 231

“Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’” (Matthew 17:4, NKJV).

Peter, James and John were the privileged witnesses to a rare supernatural revelation. Jesus, the Bible says, took them with Him to a high mountain. While there, Jesus’ figure changed before their very eyes. The Bible says that “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:2). This was like a trip to heaven. Would you blame Peter for not wanting to leave the mountain?

After seeing such glory, Peter suggested to Jesus what appeared to be a brilliant plan: Make three tents; one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. We don’t know why Peter’s plan covered only three people instead of six. But, let’s not speculate. One day when we see Peter face to face, we might ask him if he cares to explain the missing link in his otherwise clever plan.

What took place on the mountain – especially, what Peter said – has significance for every Christian today. Who doesn’t want to live on a ‘mountain of glory?’ Peter wanted to stay on the mountain for good reason. He basically saw a glimpse of heaven, and that was enough for him. “It is good for us to be here,” he said. By ‘here,’ he was referring to a specific geographical spot, i.e. the top of the mountain. He wanted to live there, in the presence of God’s glory. But notice that Jesus didn’t respond to his suggestion/request. Mark this, because it important.  

Moses had to go to the mountain to encounter God’s glory (See Exodus 24:12-18). And Peter wanted to remain on the mountain of glory. Today, there is no mountain of glory. Jesus didn’t pay attention to Peter’s suggestion, because the latter didn’t know what he was asking. Besides, Jesus had better plans. His plan was to usher in a new way of worshiping God, where God lives inside the worshiper. “Or do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). If you are a Christian, you have received the Holy Spirit. The Spirit in you, that is God’s glory in you. This New Covenant is a covenant where the glory of God literally resides inside the believer.

After what Jesus has done, don’t look far for God’s glory. Seeking the glory of God in a geographical location is an exercise in futility and evidence of immaturity. The glory of God is not here or there. The glory is in you. Don’t chase your tail. Jesus has made it simple and easy. But simple things are easy to miss. What you need to do is develop an awareness (through prayer and meditation of God’s Word) of what sits inside you. A big part of your Christian life is to grow in awareness of what God has made you and what He has put inside you. This awareness will revolutionize your walk with Christ.

Know that wherever you go, you carry God’s glory in you and with you. You don’t need a tent, and you sure don’t need a mountain. Your prayer should be, “Lord, make me aware of your glory in me.”

May God richly bless you and your dear ones! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

For further study: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 and John 4:19-26