06 - Praying with Paul

In the last post we looked at what it meant for Christ to be honoured and glorified by the way we live...the verse continues onto to say that we will be 'honoured along with him.' However what does this mean...surely it is all about Jesus receiving the honour and the glory and not us? Well it certainly doesn't mean that we should go around seeking praise for ourselves, but on the other hand we would be foolish to ignore the theologically truth contained in this statement. Romans 8:30 gives us insight into this idea saying 'those he justified he also glorified.'

As human beings we are cracked and flawed, we are not as we were originally intended to be, nor supposed to be. Being a Christian is being part of on going process of transformation in which we become fully human, as Christ was fully human. We are not left guessing as to what exactly this means...Jesus gave us the example of what it means to live a perfect human life. On the final day, all those who put their faith in Christ Jesus, will be transformed and made like Jesus himself; pure, spotless and without blemish. We will be glorified like Christ is glorified. For some the change on that final day will be more significant than others, but nevertheless it will be as complete for all those that belong to God.

Being glorified is not something we undergo for our own gain, but something which points back to God himself; without Christ we would not glorified at all. We are being strengthened and empowered because Christ is 'in us', thus our glory is a testament to the infinite power and grace of the indwelling spirit of the living God. Furthermore we are not giving Christ something he did not have in the first place, as if we giving God 'more glory.' No, we giving back to Christ everything that was already in his possession...we can be said to be the illumination of Christ's glory, a lampstand on a hill. It is as if Christ reveals his glory to us, so we praise him and worship him by changing the way we live, and in turn we reveal more of the glory of God.

Paul writes here with his eyes firmly focussed on heaven. Indeed this is such an important thing to remember for us living the Christian life, it gives us a greater perspective, a persective which is beyond ourselves and our immediate situation. We are living are living for the glory of God, and we are living in view of God one day transforming us once and for all in to who we are destined to be. Colossians 3:1 - 4 puts this whole idea in context very nicely for us... 'Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.'

Take a moment to examine yourself...does your life truly reflect the glory of God? Is your undergoing a transformation or do you feel left stagnant and stationery, in the same place you were many years ago? Do you feel you are overcoming spiritual strongholds and areas you are weak in, making ground for Christ Jesus in your life?