“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day, He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.” Hosea 6:1,2
Every act of God, whether small or great, from a human standpoint, is a miracle of God. From the very small cloud that rose out of the sea in Elijah’s day, announcing the “abundance of rain” in a time of great drought, to the speaking to a paralytic in Jesus’ day, to rise up and walk, “every good and perfect gift of God, is a miracle to men. Why? First of all it is because God alone can do the work of God. No man or devil has the power to DO that which is intrinsically good, perfect in motive, and pure in it’s intent. No man or devil, because of the power needed for creation and transformation, can effect such a work, but by the Spirit. This is why the Lord would tell Zechariah, concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, after the first temple of Solomon had been destroyed: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (3:6) The Lord Jesus would basically say the same thing, as recorded in the Gospel of John: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch CANNOT bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in Me.” (15:4) Herein is revealed the great truth of man’s existence, and the basic premise of knowing God: God in Christ, was not only reconciling the world to Himself, seeking to save that which was lost, beginning and establishing His church on earth for the revelation of His glory, His nature, but He was working to reveal in inexplicable, inexpressible, incomprehensible ways, to manifest His glory in the whole of His creation. The great thrust of His purposes in these “latter days, ” or last times,” before the “day” of Christ’s coming, was and is to redeem the lost, save the most, and manifest His glory, according to His wisdom, in greatest measure. The ultimate reason for all this, and it corresponds with God’s purpose for man on this earth, is to reveal his glory to the greatest, and most powerful extent, for in that revelation, there is the highest blessing of His creation.
So then, what is this blessed truth, by which if a man live, he will “see” the glory of God? It is this: “God alone can do the work of God, His way, for His purposes, and for His unique glory alone.” Mankind, and the whole of creation is blessed, and benefits in greatest measure when God works in His unique, blessed, and holy manner. The individual believer who believes this, and relies upon God only, and solely, is that person who is in a position to receive of God’s fulness, for he will not touch the glory of God revealed in and through him, but will give it to God in praise, thanksgiving, and blessing with mind and heart, soul and spirit. The response of “perceiving” the glory of God, and then believing it, seeing it with the eyes of faith, is true worship, that attributing to God the great worth of His person.
The twenty-four elders mentioned in the book of Revelation, had it right in their response to the magnificent revelation of the holiness of God: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” (4:11) In addition, and in particular with regard to redemption, there is the declaration by the multitudes of angels, living creatures of heaven, and the elders, representing the redeemed of all ages, the loud chorus, as one voice, declaring: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to recevie power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory and blessing.” (5:12)
Dear Father, THINE be the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.