Dear Church Family,
I started writing these devotions on March 16 – which was the day after our first Sunday of not having worship together. Now over four months later I am still at it. It is a joy to do so. However, it takes quite a bit of time, so I will be writing shorter entries from now on. Many will follow up on the sermon just preached or forward to the sermon to be preached. Think of what is to come as a ‘small plate” or ‘tapas’ at a Spanish restaurant – a serving that will nourish and satisfy while desiring more.
In Exodus 33:18 Moses demands of God, “Now show me Your glory!” In the past few weeks Moses had seen God’s glory in the burning bush; in Pharaoh’s court where his staff turned into a snake and ate those of the magicians; in the ten plagues including the last one where the angel of death struck down Egypt’s firstborn; in the parting of the Red Sea to save them from Pharaoh’s army; in getting good water in the desert twice, as well as manna and quail to eat; and in being guided by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. After all those incredible displays of God’s glory, you would think that Moses would be satisfied, yet he wants more. When I get to heaven, I will ask him why.
God shows His patience as He grants Moses’ request and allows him to see His back as His glory passes by Moses who was covered in the cleft of a rock. Before doing so, God told him words that remind us of God’s glorious character. He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
I encourage you to be bold like Moses. I hope the first two sermons on the glory of God have led you to desire to see His glory and to glorify Him in your life. God has promised in Leviticus 10:3 to answer this bold desire, “I will show Myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be glorified.” So pray and sing:
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night; Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin