THE REVELATION OF GOD’S GLORY

Once we receive the revelation of God’s glory, we cannot continue in our old ways of treating others. That must all change.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

God is telling us through Paul, “You have seen My glory, and you know My nature and character—that I am gracious, ready to forgive. Now, I want you to express to others who I am!”

Even though Moses had this revelation of God’s glory, at one point he misrepresented it to the people. He grew impatient with Israel over their disobedience and he angrily struck a rock with his staff, as if to say, “You stiff-necked bunch of rebels!”

God didn’t take kindly to that at all. Once He reveals to you His glory—His kindness, goodness, grace and mercy—His patience will not endure your misrepresenting His glory to others. Now Moses had misrepresented that glory to Israel and as a result, Moses—one of the meekest, godliest figures in the Old Testament—was kept out of God’s fullness. He wasn’t allowed to enter the Promised Land!

We find another illustration of this in one of Jesus’ parables. He speaks of a servant who was forgiven a great debt by his master. The master showed this man incredible kindness, grace and forgiveness. Yet, no sooner was this servant forgiven than he found a man who owed him a small debt and he began choking the debtor until he paid up. The very one who had experienced great love and forgiveness showed no mercy in return.

Jesus is saying in this parable, “You’re misrepresenting the love of the Father! He has given you a touch of His incredible glory through His kindness and the forgiveness of your sins. Yet, now that you’ve seen His glory, you are misrepresenting it to the world.”

This is summed up in Paul's command, “Be merciful to others, even as he has been merciful to you.”