GOD IS GLORIFIED

John 13:31, 32 (Jerusalem Bible)

When he had gone, JESUS said: Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in Him GOD has been glorified. If GOD has been glorified in Him, GOD will in turn glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him very soon.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Judas had just left the meal with JESUS and had gone into the night. Verse 30 says: "Night had fallen." It is significant that Judas went into the night. He was in the Light when He was with JESUS, but preferred the darkness - what a terrible shame. How many people are walking in darkness because they prefer it to the Light? This thought makes me weep. A person I knew once said that darkness can become a familiar friend and it is hard to leave the friend to enter into the Light of Christ. They have to be encouraged and nurtured to leave behind the familiar and enter into the new Light. We are the life line for those in darkness, to draw them and nurture them in the Light, the Holy Spirit is with us.

JESUS knew that Judas was going into the darkness to betray Him. But instead of condemning him, He spoke of the glory that He would give to the Father and that the Father would receive Him into glory. JESUS always spoke about His Father's will for man; the Gospel of GOD. The Father's will was life for all and that He wanted all to dwell with Him and behold His glory eternally.

What about us? Was this only for JESUS or was He the first fruit and we are to follow? I believe that when we glorify GOD with our life, He will bless us with His glory. "If GOD has been glorified in Him, God will in turn glorify Him in Himself." 

In the Torah there is a Word from GOD that we should never forget: "You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength." You see, it is love for the LORD GOD that makes it possible for us to glorify Him. Do not forget that He loved us first and so our love for Him is our response to His great love for us. When we reach out to touch a soul in the love of GOD, the LORD reaches out to touch our soul with His glory.

LET US SING ALOUD, "TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE".