Look to the Unseen King

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4.6

1 Clement 36
Clement of Rome (fl. ca. 90-100 AD)
“This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Saviour, even Jesus Christ, the High Priest of all our offerings, the defender and helper of our infirmity. By Him we look up to the heights of heaven. By Him we behold, as in a glass, His immaculate and most excellent visage. By Him are the eyes of our hearts opened. By Him our foolish and darkened understanding blossoms up anew towards His marvelous light. By Him the Lord willed that we should taste of immortal knowledge, ‘who, being the brightness of His majesty, is by so much greater than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.’”

Conformity to Christ is the goal of the Christian life (2 Cor. 3.12-18); it is also what the Body of Christ should be striving for together (Eph. 4.11-16). But we cannot conform to what we do not know. So Clement, following Paul, points the churches in Corinth to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ exalted, and calls on them to fix their desires and aspirations there (Col. 3.1-3). Scripture provides many excellent glimpses of our exalted King – Revelation 1 and 14, Psalms 2, 45, 110, for example – and by practicing meditation on these passages we can get a better sense of what God wants to do in and through our lives and our churches. The more clearly we see Jesus in His beauty and glory, the more we will desire to be like Him. The Spirit of God will take it from there.

What role does the vision of Christ exalted play in your personal life, your ministry, and your church?

T. M. Moore

The Vision of Jesus Exalted
Download our free 28-day devotional, Glorious Vision, and spend a month meditating on the glory of Jesus as revealed in Psalm 45 (click here). Give your leaders and staff a copy, and work through it together, meeting once a week to share their experiences of learning Jesus this way. You can also order the book, Be Thou My Vision, as a 28-day follow-up, and let some of the great saints of the Celtic Revival lead you in further contemplating the glory which is in Christ Jesus (click here).

Introduction to Christian Worldview
We’re pleased to offer our course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview, at The Ailbe Seminary. There’s no charge, and all the course materials are free. In 12 diagrams you will gain a perspective and overall grasp of the 1 worldview that can change the world. Click here to register. Here’s a great opportunity for you and your leaders to get on the same page for a vision of the Kingdom that could change your lives and your church.

Your prayers and gifts make this ministry possible. Please seek the Lord in prayer about sharing with us at The Fellowship of Ailbe. You can use the Contribute button at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.