Were you, like me, brought up in your Christian walk with the idea that God is a jealous God and does not share His glory? This concept never really sat well with me. It carries the vibe that God is insecure, touchy, and jealous. The concept of not sharing glory comes from Isaiah 42:8 (KJV) which says:
8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
God Shares His Glory!
The beginning of the verse sounds as if God jealously guards His glory. But the passage before is all about setting the captives free. Continuing in the exact same verse the context following is about graven images or idols. God is jealous, not of His kids, but for His kids. His glory is not to be shared with idols, true. But even more truth, God is all about sharing His glory with us! Jesus Himself in John 17: 20 – 22 (KJV) prayed:
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [j]will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
One with God
Wow! Note first, that this passage applies to all believers not just the 12 around Christ’s table when He walked the earth. Jesus gave us – past tense – not just glory but, the glory Father gave Him, how amazing! We truly are co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). What was Jesus’ and Papa’s motive – that we may be one just as He, Papa, and Holy Spirit are one. Continuing to Romans 8:23, it discusses the nature of that union and result of it.
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
You are Loved as Much as Jesus
Christ is in us and Father is in Christ. His objective is that we may be made perfect in oneness and that the world may know 2 things:
- that Father sent the Son in the flesh
- that Father God loves us as much as he loves Jesus!
This is revolutionary and probably not what you heard in church growing up. But these are the red letters of Christ!
Wow! Glory serves such a purpose! It is Papa’s desire that His kids walk in glory! In my recent blog, Salvation in Light of Union with God (place link), I discuss this as the endpoint of salvation, with justification being a profound means to that end. You will want to read that if you haven’t – it will bless you!
Becoming What You Behold
Romans 8:24 continues with Jesus praying that we may be with Him and behold His glory. Truth is that we become what we behold. For more on this you can read my blog, “You Become What You Behold” or watch my YouTube Teaching by the same name.
Scripturally we can see this in the glorious scripture (and we are all about glory today), 2 Corinthians 3:18 (TPT):
18 We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.[a]We are being transfigured[b] into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another.[c] And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.[d]
As we behold Jesus we are unveiled and transfigured from glory to glory. Christ’s answer to His prayer happened as the Old Covenant died starting at the cross and coming to completion at 70AD when the Law system was destroyed with the Jerusalem temple and system. This is the veil referred to in 2 Corinthians 3:18. This veil over our minds makes/made Father God seem like a wrathful law-toting task-master. But instead, Papa is really Love (2 John 4:8. 16). He is not jealous, touchy, or keeping record of sins (1 Corinthians 13:4 – 5, AMPC). He loves you as much as He loves Jesus (Romans 8:23). And, because you are His beloved son/daughter, He shares His glory.
Conformed to the Glorious Image of Christ
As a matter of fact that is one of Holy Spirit’s primary agendas – to unveil you in your glorified self! Romans 8:29-30 (NASB) says:
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Isn’t that a huge to know your destiny of glorification is in God’s hands, not yours? You can rest!
I encourage you to rest and meditate on all these amazing things, and as you do – I’d love to hear all about it! You truly are marked by Love!
Love,
Catherine
Catherine thank you for your scriptures that you shared regarding God’s glory being shared with his children.
Romans 8:29-30, John 17: 20-22, Second Corinthians
3:18 18 We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.[a]We are being transfigured[b] into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another.[c] And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.[d]. Amen. Thank you for sharing
Catherine.
My pleasure – always a joy to hear from you!
My pleasure – always a joy to hear from you!