Glorified and One in Our Resurrection

This week's devotion is authored by James Blake, prayer co-coordinator for our ministry expansion campaign

"According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

"The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me" (John 17:22-24 ).

The word glory is used hundreds of times throughout scripture. Jesus is the King of glory (Psalm 24:10). We are to live in eager expectation for the eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). Our school-age children should bring glory to God in their academics, artistic gifts, and athletics, and our purpose in our vocations should be the same. And every common daily task, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Therefore, we should have a good idea of what this word truly means. Or is it referred to so commonly that the depth of its significance is glossed over?

A Puritan writer in the past shared his description: Glory is the sweetness, comeliness, purity, and perfection of a thing. Light is the glory of the sun, strength is the glory of youth, and grey hair the glory of old age.¹ In the context of our resurrection, and thanks be to Jesus Christ, our bodies will be lifted to a glorious new and eternal life that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading (1 Peter 1:3-5). But what is happening inside of us before our earthly death and Jesus’ return on that last day? How is God’s creative love answering Jesus’ prayer to Him in John 17 as we celebrate the beginning of a new year? To the extent that we can rely on the Holy Spirit inside of us to deny ourselves and follow Jesus, we can receive the glory that He has given to us; even better, we can let that glory flow through us in simple ways for an eternal impact. Our relationship with God then feeds a craving for God in the lives of others.

This living hope and perfect unity are void of any human ingredient. When God says He "created man in our image, after our likeness," He wasn’t commenting on our physical appearance (Genesis 1:26). The Greek word used in John 17 for “one” doesn’t refer to a singular person, but rather a singular action, a harmonious will. Fully human and fully man, Jesus’ will has always been aligned and one with His Father. What a beautiful prayer to remember throughout this new year and the rest of our earthly lives — the Son asked the Father to do whatever it takes to redeem and restore that perfect relationship between the Creator and His creation.

¹John Bunyan, Works, II:85-96

At the Name of Jesus

LSB Hymn 512, Stanzas 1 and 5

At the name of Jesus

    Ev’ry knee shall bow,

Ev’ry tongue confess Him

    King of glory now.

’Tis the Father’s pleasure

    We should call Him Lord,

Who from the beginning

    Was the mighty Word.

In your hearts enthrone Him;

    There let Him subdue

All that is not holy,

    All that is not true:

Crown Him as your captain

    In temptation’s hour;

Let His will enfold you

    In its light and pow’r.

About Mindful Monday Devotions

In our season of celebration with Tell the Wonders He Has Done, we continue in our prayerful focus as we look to the months and years ahead with thanksgiving. Join us as we remain in God's strong Word each Monday morning.