God’s plan for us in giving us our ‘new Christ life’ is that we should grow and be changed. ‘But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord the Spirit.’ 2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB, or as it is written in the Amplified Bible, we are being changed ‘from one degree of glory to another’.
We have a God who is always increasing His power and His glory on the earth. ‘Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end’. Isaiah 9:7, and ultimately ‘the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.’ Habakkuk 2:14. We are a very significant part of this great plan and so His intention is always to increase His glory in our lives us too.
His plan for you and me is that we being ‘rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, may have the power to grasp with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of it; that we may know the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge; that we may be filled unto all the fullness of God, (may have the richest measure of the divine presence and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself)’. Ephesians 3:18,19. AMP.
We have this amazing privilege of carrying the glory of God on the earth, and His desire for us is that we will be more and more full of that glory, as we are increasingly transformed into His likeness. Now that is the awesome plan that He has for my life and yours, and nothing can thwart it, apart from my doubts and unbelief, because as long as I stay in faith and trust, He can and will use any and every circumstance to bring about that transformation. (See James 1:2-4.)
We said yesterday quoting from Peter that ‘His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and Godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature…..’. 2 Peter 1:3,4. NASB. There it is again, you and I are destined to be partakers or sharers of His divine nature, or carriers of His glory.
We shared a few days ago (Blog 259) that giving thanks can help us to let that Christ life flow from deep within, when we are under pressure. In giving thanks we remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit is with us, as we cooperate with Him to produce His wonderful fruit in our lives. In addition, because it is His fruit, we will stay humbly walking with Him as we show forth His divine nature.
Often when we have ‘done well’ in a situation, or when we have ‘grown’ and for example notice that we are much more patient or kind, or that we seem to be living with more peace or joy, we can find that that progress is challenged. Sometimes it feels like the enemy throws a curved ball and catches us out, and the accusation comes, ‘So you haven’t really changed at all’. Thanksgiving, I believe, will help us to demolish those discouraging accusations and help us not to give up, or slip back into old mindsets and old ways.
Our God is a God of increase, and He is changing me one degree at a time. That is sure and certain. Thanksgiving for this fact will help me in those moments of discouragement to stay in faith that God is at work in my life, that I am a new creation, and that He is growing my new nature daily as I walk with Him through all the ups and downs of everyday life. Thanksgiving is part of my faith declaration that I am moving from glory to glory by His Spirit, even if today I am feeling more aware of my shortcomings than victory.
In addition, when we do see change, thanksgiving will seal our victories. When we have gained victory over a sin, a thought pattern or an unhelpful habit, giving thanks is like bolting the gate behind ourselves as we move on from one degree of glory to another. It’s just part of celebrating who we now are in Christ.
