Above Only Daily Devotional http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly Wednesday, APRIL 4 The Hour of Glory

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Wednesday, APRIL 4

The Hour of Glory

John 17:1 (NKJV & GNB), Psalms 3:3
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You. *After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you. *But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

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If you are conversant with the scripture in our text above, you will certainly be aware that the 'hour' Jesus was referring to was the time of His betrayal, suffering and crucifixion. Jesus described the time of His greatest challenge and suffering on the earth as an 'hour of glory' and that is precisely what it became for Him. He did not deem it an hour of shame and pain or the end of His life. Despite how He was feeling in His flesh, He chose to view it the way God was viewing it. It was His opportunity to fulfill purpose, to do God's will and to glorify God. Jesus did not allow the thoughts and experience of that moment to overwhelm Him to the point that He could no longer trust and glorify God in the midst of it.

His eyes were fixed on the joy that was set before Him, Heb.12:2. He understood that the experience would be temporal and that the glory would be eternal. 2Corinthians 4:17 (NIV) declares, “for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Compared to the glory that is forthcoming, whatever we may have to go through is light or little. Jesus also knew how to take His burdens to God the Father in prayer. Even though He was in agony, He prayed even more earnestly, Luke 22:44. This same grace is upon your life today. David wrote our final text above as he was fleeing Absalom's rebellion and an actual threat against his life. Just as David said here, I declare unto you that no matter what you are going through, the Lord will be your glory, your shield and the lifter of your head.

PRAYER: Dear Father, I receive Your grace to see my trying times as an hour of glory. Cause me to become strong, prayerful and able to glorify You even in the midst of them.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: RUTH 1-4; LUKE 8:1-25

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