Before I get to the actual post, I am still working on a big article which will be a reflection of all of my thoughts so far on 2 Thessalonians. It turns out that trying to distill four sermons, several weeks of study, and pages and pages of handwritten notes into something coherent is actually quite a big task to undertake during Advent. In the meantime, I’ll be sharing my weekly devotional thought which I send out to our church.
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (John 17:5)
When fame and riches come to someone, there is a shift in their attitude toward others. In some cases, the person is motivated toward charity and using their position for the good of others. In most cases, it would be safe to say that they see their position as an excuse to distance themselves from others.
Perhaps they are seeking safety. Perhaps they are just not wanting to be used by people. But then there are some who will feel that the gift they’ve been given was actually coming to them anyway. That they deserved to be given a particular talent or ability which led to them being recognised by people.
When we look at Jesus, we see that he chooses an option that none of us would choose on our own. In the time before his Incarnation, the Word was in glory, glorified by the Father. This was a glory which was rightly his for he is very God of very God, Light of Light eternal.
What did Jesus do with this glory? He did not allow it to keep him from us but stepped into history as one of us, yet without sin.
This Advent, we will consider Jesus, his glory, and his accomplishing of his Father’s will so that we might take part in his glory (2 Thess. 1:12).