Today we continue our series entitled, “Pursuing Grace-Based Success!”
Here are our foundational scriptures:
(Ephesians 2:8-10 ERV)
8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.
9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about.
10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.
(1 Corinthians 1:30,31 NLT)
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
(2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV)
Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Yesterday I took you back to the comparison between the Old and New Covenants as I discussed God’s grace for eternal salvation and His grace for earthly success. Today’s message flows in the same vein. Paul described the differences between the Old and New Covenants and then made it clear that part of our earthly assignment is to bring God glory. But think about that for a minute. What could you DO to bring glory to God? The answer is nothing. What you can do is allow the glory of God to flow through you and to become a reflection of His glory on the earth. The Apostle Paul said:
“The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!
Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away… whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Cor 3:7-18)
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. We were created for God’s glory (Isaiah 43:7).
— Part of the “meaning of life” is to bring glory to God’s name.
— God sent us to this planet to become conduits of His glory.
— Before we were Born-Again, it may have been natural to be selfish and self-centered. But once we have God’s Spirit living inside of us, if we listen to the Holy Spirit, we will have the desire to glorify God and to put His will above our own.
2. God wants to be glorified in everything you do.
The Bible says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31 NLT). The Passion Translation of this verse reads, “Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God.”
— A clear way to bring glory to God in what you do is by seeking to ONLY DO what He leads you to do!
— You won’t bring God glory when you are doing what you want (something God did not tell you to do). God is not glorified when you are doing your own thing!
— To glorify God, we must seek to do what God leads us to do (what He sent us to this planet to do) and to them do it with a spirit of excellence!
3. To fully glorify God under the New Covenant, you must understand the differences between the New Covenant and the Old.
— The Old Covenant was written on stone, and it led to death. The New Covenant is written on our hearts, and it leads to eternal life.
— The Old Covenant had a glory that faded away. The New Covenant has a glory that emanates from God’s eternal presence IN us, a glory that never fades.
— The Old Covenant brought condemnation. The New Covenant establishes us in righteousness, not because we earn it or deserve it, but only because of God’s grace.
— The New Covenant’s glory and righteousness make us bold, confident, assured, and settled because it is not based on our performance. This Covenant is based on Jesus’ finished work.
— The Old Covenant restricted mankind, telling us what we could NOT do. The New Covenant brings liberty and power through the Holy Spirit, telling us all that we CAN do through Christ.
4. Beyond WHAT WE DO, under the New Covenant, bringing glory to God has to do with becoming a REFLECTION of WHO HE IS!
— The more we behold the glory of the New Covenant, the more we are changed into the image we behold. We literally BECOME what we BEHOLD. This is why it is so very important for us (as New Covenant believers who want to be a success during the short time we have on this planet) to focus and meditate on the fact that we are the righteousness of God in Christ.
— Each believer should pursue the specific success associated with their unique purpose. But there is also an assignment we all have, a general assignment, and that is to reflect God’s glory.
— The more you are changed into the image and likeness of God, the more you reflect the glory of the Lord in your daily living. When people look at you, the Father wants them to see Jesus.
— Reflecting Jesus is part of your assignment, and the more you reflect Him, the more you will experience earthly success. I am a witness!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for teaching me about grace-based success.
The Old Covenant served its purpose in my life. I came to the conclusion that I was a sinner, needing a Savior. I accepted Your Son Jesus as my Lord, and I embraced the New Covenant You ratified with His sinless blood.
I am now covered by the Blood of Jesus, filled with Your Holy Spirit, forgiven of inward iniquity, upward sin and outward transgression, and called according to Your Kingdom plans and purposes for my life.
I pursue the specific assignment You have given me — prepared for me before the world began. I also accept and embrace the general assignment we as believers all have — to bring glory to Your name.
I die to sin, self, and selfish desires. I live for You in all I do. I focus on You and Your glory. The more I BEHOLD Your glory, the more I BECOME what I BEHOLD.
I live my life as a reflection of Your glory, and I seek to become a conduit of Your love and light everywhere I go.
Living this way, You are glorified, people are edified, and satan is terrified! I reflect Your glory on this planet, and I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
P.S. I need to share something with you. Yesterday we found out that one of my son’s friends died in a terrible accident this weekend. He had been missing since the weekend, and his body was found yesterday. Our church family is hurting. We have many young people who are trying to process this. The young man had been on vacation with us and had spent many nights in my home. Isabella will be very involved in the arrangements for the celebration of life ceremony. I ask for your prayers for this family, for Isabella, for our son and all the young people impacted, and for our church family. May the healing power of the Holy Spirit help everyone involved grieve, and may we become a reflection of God through this process. Thank you for your prayers.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
