II Corinthians 4:5-7
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
May 31st
"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death...." Hosea 13:14
`Tis in the image of GOD we are fashioned, and by His Spirit begotten. `Tis the GLORY-consciousness of THAT image we must with determination attain, in order that the imperfections in SELF and the ugliness of EGO may smite us in the face by contrast. It is the GLORY-image of the Lowly Nazarene which by deliberation must be awakened daily, to inspire the yearning and instill the strength to lay SELF on the Altar, that His Spirit-fire may light up that offering, and consume its dross. We look to the sheer cut cliff of His flint-like face as DETERMINED He went to pay our debt in sin contracted. We look to the tempered strength of shoulders which bore the Cross to lift Him in agony – for OTHERS. We gaze on His back – deep-gashed with the lash – for the trespasses wrought by you and me. Yet again we must look to His thorn-pierced brow, humbled and pained – for that EGO of ours. ALL these – may they be seared on our soul as once more we look to the GLORY-LIGHT of the "Son with the Father" (Jn. 17:5). Yet that LOVE FOR OTHERS which rejected angels' adoration to be imprisoned in helpless flesh – took Him to the agonizing Cross – to break the fetters of our serfdom unto sin, and ransom YOU and ME from out that Pit!
THAT is the Glory-image we must behold, until our soul is mellowed by His Spirit, and has become willing to be TRANSFORMED from sordid SELF – to the BEAUTY OF OUR SAVIOR!
Gems for Daily Living