I had a thought last night in those closing moments before restless slumber. It didn’t originate with me, and I’m certain I’m not the first person to think upon it. It’s one of those “staying” thoughts as evidenced by its arrival to my consciousness upon waking this morning. It blesses me, challenges me, humbles me, and relinquishes to me a gift of weighty proportion.
A thought that belonged to Jesus first, and now a thought that belongs to each one of us who call him Lord, Savior, Father, and King:
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”(John 10:23)
Jesus would carry the fullness of that mission; Jesus was and is the only One to explore the depths of what that would mean as he willingly surrendered his flesh to wooden beam and iron spikes. Jesus, better than anyone else, understood the measure of an hour’s approach; not just any hour, but an hour—an eternal moment—that gave perfect witness to the perfect plan set in motion by the perfect Father in the perfect beginning.
Calvary. The hour that changed everything. The hour when the Son of Man opened the door for the God of man. The hour that gave stage to the King and his story. The hour that shook the foundations of hell. The hour that gave the world entrance into the portal of heaven.
God’s hour. Christ’s hour. And by his grace, our hour as well.
I tread carefully here, for in no way would I want to diminish the work of Calvary by suggesting that you and I, mere mortals with an eternal pulse, could measure our kingdom work against the work of the cross. It wouldn’t be fair to Jesus; his glorification of the Father because of his surrendered flesh is too big, too wonderful, too weighty a standard for human shoulders. What I am suggesting, though, is that there may come an hour or two for each one of us that, like Jesus, will become an occasion for the Son of Man to be glorified in us… through us… most days in spite of us.
As the blood-bought children of the Most High God, as the temples of his pulsing Holy Spirit, you and I are given the unbelievable privilege of being a doorkeeper for the King and his kingdom… of making gracious entryway for Jesus and his donkey, the Savior and his cross.
I don’t know when that hour will arrive for you in coming days. Perhaps this one or the next will cradle eternal significance for you and for the life of another. Perhaps in coming days. But of this I am certain…
You won’t have to wait very long for an occasion to display the glory of God in you. He’s just too big of a deal, too wonderful and far too weighty to stay bottled up inside of you. I suppose you could refuse his release—his witness—to those around you; but in doing so, you forsake your God-ordained, sacred responsibility as a believer in Jesus Christ—to glorify God’s name. To make God bigger. To magnify his majesty. To give God the stage so that others might bask in the reality of who he IS.
Oh friends, the hour is upon us. Not just any sixty minutes, but rather an eternal moment when the response of our hearts to Christ’s cross and its reaching grace can make all the difference between life and death for a human soul. Carry your cross this weekend, friends, in light of how our Jesus has carried his. Our hearts may be initially troubled by its weightiness, but what shall we say?
Father, save us from this hour? No, it was for this very reason that we came to this hour. Father, glorify your name through us. (paraphrase of John 10:27-28)
The clock is ticking. May our hearts be willing to keep in tandem with its pace. As always…
Peace for the journey,
Again, how your words touch me. Such wisdom here. I am struggling so with a couple of issues, and this just soo challenged and ministered to me. I have a feeling I will be back and read this again a couple of times. : ) Hope all is going well with you. Hugs to you to today, and have a wonderful week-end!
Amen. I wish we all could really grasp that our purpose here is to glorify God. Period. How He chooses to do that comes in many different forms but the foundational truth is still the same.
Beautiful post.
Oh to glorify the Lord daily in all I do is my prayer.
Beautiful, wonderful, just so full.
Thank you!
Debbie
He is what matters; May we each cling to His cross as He shows us where to carry our own
So many worships songs come to mind, and so many scriptures, and the countless hours of Him, in my thoughts. Let us not forget that this hour is His eternity.
How powerfully you have spoken to my heart. Yes, may my heart beat in tune with His.
And may I always be wiling to tell others about the wonderfully gracious gift He gave us…
…when His hour had come.
GOD BLESS!
Amen. thank you for boldly challenging us, elaine. this is what i take with me today: it is my "God-ordained, sacred responsibility as a believer in Jesus Christ—to glorify God’s name. To make God bigger. To magnify his majesty. To give God the stage so that others might bask in the reality of who he IS."
thank you.
Honestly, when I think of what He did for me in that one hour…..It is almost more than I can bear. I really cannot imagine what it will be like to see Him face to face.
The thought of this the way you wrote it is overwhelming for me. At first I feel conviction for my lack of sacrifice for His sake. Doesn't take me long to move my thoughts to wonder, then worship. Oh, how I love Him. And I thank Him for the gift of writing words in such a way that I can experience Him. Love you, my sis.
Yes, He is just too big of a deal to be bottled inside. I love that.
You honor Him well with your words — each one of them fixed squarely on the cross.
That we might make entryway for Jesus into the life of another — what a precious thought! So be it, Lord!
Oh Lord, glorify Your Name through me in this "hour" of my life and then the next.
My Pastor shared just a week ago that he is tired of people using the phrase, "a personal relationship with Christ". He said from now on he is going to use words like a vital or growing relationship, but not personal. Personal implies with it that we are keeping it to ourselves when our lives should be proclaiming His Name in all we say and do.
Thank you my friend for faithfully sharing Jesus in every "hour".
Love you,
Joy
Amen and Amen!
Blessings, peace and restoration over you in Jesus Name!
Love,
Lisa
Elaine…your words have touched my so much this morning. What he did for me, for us, is truly amazing. I pray I can glorify Him through my life.
So beautiful Elaine.
Excellent words, Elaine. He does give us daily opportunity in one way or another, to show His glory and my prayer is to be willing and not resist His Holy Spirit.
Love, love, love this! It reminds me of that other scripture, "Now is the day of salvation."
The eternal present is pregnant, isn't it? I have concluded there are no coincidences & no meaningless moments, even though I've squandered both.
Oh don't let us miss the glory, Lord!
Love you,
Kathleen
Words that encourage me to stay true to the calling that has been given.
I've read (and pondered) your last two posts. I'm coming to grips with the importance of the "hours" of my life, lived one at a time with reverence and thanksgiving.
Do you think that maybe we're the doorkeepers for His return too?
Like sharing Him with everyone we meet so that they will be ready when He comes back.
Praying for you.
Sweet dreams.
Love this! It is both a comfort and a challenge… may God be glorified in your life and in mine.
Love and prayers~!
Jennifer
wifeforthejourney:
Readers of your blog have come to expect and appreciate you insights when they visit. You have a loyal following online and at home as well. Your words of wisdom and knowledge keep coming not because you sit around trying to come up with profound thoughts, but because you are faithful to pursue God's presence throughout your day.
Thank you for your continued encouragement in my own walk with Christ, and how I send my time today.
Love you,
Billy
We are IN that hour. Glorifying God is my prayer as well. I feel like the clock is ticking, and there is still so much to be done.
His hour and our hour…I love that thought, and what a challenge and responsibility to walk close to Him.
Your words always grip, today for sure!
xo