When Moses asked to see the glory of God in Exodus 33, he was allowed to see all the goodness of God pass by him. Even though he only saw the hinder part of God, he had to be hidden in the cleft of a rock. The glory of God speaks to His brilliance that outshines the sun, splendor, radiance, the combination of all His attributes and perfections, His weightiness (from the Hebrew word Khabod), His Might, His power, His awesomeness and grandeur. Zechariah 3:5 says, “5 For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her”. So whereas throughout scripture the manifestation of glory is sometimes through smoke or fire or something having to do with creation, here the Lord, the Creator is saying He Himself is Glory.
The New Testament picks up on this and brings additional revelation regarding to Glory being a person.
1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and [b]the Word was God Himself.
John 1:1 & 14 AMP
14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).
2 [But] in [a]the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. 3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the [b]out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power…..
Hebrews 1:2-4 AMPC
So, the expression of the Glory of God is Christ!!!!!
To pursue glory means to pursue the Lord Jesus and all that pertains to Him and His Kingdom. It is not just to go where He is going or has gone, but to imitate Him. There are several persons today that merely want the acts of God and not to become acquainted with His ways, so they pursue everything His hands have to offer and hardly pay attention to the glory of His face. Psalms 103 says, 7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. Joshua was a pursuer of God’s glory, every opportunity He got to be where God and Moses were having a conversation, he soaked it up, to the extent that in one account, even when Moses left the presence, he still lingered and was in no hurry to leave. It is no wonder Joshua was so strong in his eighties, undefeated in battles and became a master strategist under the leading of God concerning warfare. The children of Israel were constantly in pursuit of temporary satisfaction with the things of this world and neglected the weightier matters…His Glory. The glory of God is worth pursuing as that is where the fullness of God resides.
To be a purloiner of glory is to be a thief of it. You rob Gods glory by accepting the praises of men for acts of God. For example, being used to be a blessing to someone, or be used to do the miraculous and not giving God the credit. The gifts are from God and should be treated as such. When Nechadnezzar was caught up in pride as Daniel 4 stated:
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?. 31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
He was taking glory for his accomplishments as a king. We have to remember that there is nothing we have that we are the originators of, everything comes from Him and so Glory must be given to the designer of every master piece. I am seeing in some quarters in the body of Christ that they are not using the name of Jesus much any more and it would seem as if the prophets and apostles are a law unto themselves.
The working of pride in lives will cause one to steal Gods glory in many ways. Some persons the way they dress or the flamboyant way in which they minister to God’s people, indicates that they prefer that the eyes of the people be mesmerized by them and not the glory of God that is being revealed. I can appreciate why God had a standard garment for the High Priests and the Levites so no one would try to outdo the other. Another way we rob God of glory is when we praise the works of men as though it is all by their doing or when we pretend to be humble so someone can boost our ego.
There is literally an identity crisis in the body of Christ and the Lord told me that many are in a deceived state. We have those that are so exalted that they seem to be making up the rules of Christianity based on their standards as they go along, and there are those who think so lowly of themselves that they do not get much done with what they have nor the opportunities they are given. Both scenarios rob glory. The Apostle Paul knew who he was called to be and he declared it and embraced it. He however submitted his apostleship to the leading of Christ. He had a balanced opinion of himself, the apostle Paul exhibited real humility. This enabled him to be trusted with mysteries and powers because he never forgot to whom the Glory belongs! God wants his Glory to become evident through how He uses His children. It gives Him glory when we are able to reflect His Glory! Let’s be pursuers and not purloiners of Glory in Jesus name! Amen!
Keisha-gay
February 13, 2023 - 9:28 am ·Wow!!!! This blog have opened my eyes even wider. When we are a pursuer of God we will understand that seeing all His brilliance it will lead us to shachah Him. Blessings to you woman of God.
Nicholeen Williams
February 13, 2023 - 9:42 am ·To God be the Glory Woman of God! Let’s pursue Him indeed!