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The Story: Sometimes I think we read through certain passages of Scripture without really stopping to think about them, and very often, these are some of the most important texts we might consider. Like this one. Peter describes himself as a “partaker of the glory that will be revealed.” In 2 Peter 1.4 he indicates that believers partake of the divine nature as part of our walk with the Lord. Paul wrote about the “hope of glory” (Rom. 5.1, 2) and the glory of God by which we are transformed into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3.12-18). But let us ask ourselves: Do we really, truly, indeed participatein the gloryof God? And what’s that like? Or how would we know? The glory of God is our calling in life (1 Cor. 10.31); it is also our great hope and privilege. The glory of God should motivate, direct, and characterize our lives as followers of Jesus Christ – that we participate in the glory of God as a foretaste of the eternal glory that is yet to come! This is the Christian’s daily privilege and calling.
The Structure: God is revealing His glory through the things He has made (Ps. 19.1-4; Rom. 1.18ff.). Yet most people pay no attention. God, however, is not deterred. In this time of redemption and restoration He has appointed His people for the work of making His glory known throughout the earth (Hab. 2.14). This we do by our own participation in that glory – meeting God in glory through prayer, Scripture, worship, and the contemplation of creation; and living for the glory of God in such a way as to get the attention of others and provoke a question concerning our hope (1 Pet. 3.15).
Are you regularly participating in the glory of God? How would you describe that experience to a new believer?
Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “Living the Glory: 1 Peter 5,” simply click here.
T. M. Moore
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.