reflections

1/11

Gifts and Glory The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:5 The LORD’s manifest glory was birthed in a Child (Is. 9:6). The joyous gift of His loving plan was fulfilled that we may fully partake of the Kingdom of Heaven (Heb. 3:1). Do we grasp and receive that we have been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3-4 )?” A divine exchange is available. Yielding to the Holy Spirit, we ascend beyond temporal confines to be His manifest ‘Body’ without limitation, prepared to display His glorious presence in this world of great need (Jn. 14:12). Isaiah, declared “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Is. 40:3).’ ” There is a highway for God’s people, a Highway of Holiness, that brings us out from the system of Egypt: It is a highway to be cleared of stony debris and built up for the ultimate revealing of His Glory (Is. 11:16, 35:8, 62:10). That voice, the Voice of the Lord, declared the same words through John the Baptist and was heard by those compelled to come to the wilderness to meet him, but more so to meet the Spirit of the Living God. Intrigue may have drawn them, but conviction met them. Those who heeded His Voice, confessed their sin, and were immersed by a baptism of repentance, a baptism of salvation (Mt. 3:3, 5-6) . Those who rejected with a spirit of religion and false doctrine, were rebuked by the very Voice declaring the wrath to come (vs. 7). “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance (vs. 8).” “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (vs. 2).” Repentance is often referred to as “a change of mindset” but receive how the Greek (Strongs 3340) defines it in greater depth: “to change any or all of the elements composing one’s life: attitude, thoughts, and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living.” John was later beheaded for His stand, yet his Head was replaced by that of the Lord’s years earlier. His voice was silent, though the Voice of the Lord spoke. Our calling is the same, that the headship of our lives be given to Him. This outworking in our ways is impossible. “Every valley will be exalted, and every mountain and hill brought low, the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough places smooth” thus “the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed (Is. 404-5a).” Every yielded weakness (valley) will be empowered by his glory and every high place of pride, rebellion, control, etc. (mountain) will be leveled ... then the crooked, rough path will be straightened and smoothed. Prepare the highway for the Lord within’ with vulnerable transparency. Amazingly he desires us to give him gifts which we think unsightly:the hidden ungodly attitudes, and those which we think are too lowly: our failures and frailties… and brings His divine transfer. Thus making a straight path for His Glorious entrance through our lives given fully for His manifestation. May you continue to be a voice for the Lord, preparing His way in this hour. Continue to allow Him to flow through you that He may be glorified. We love and appreciate you. Pastor Sharon Carlson