Deeper Reflection
IN OUR SALVATION IN CHRIST, GOD CALLS US TO HIS GLORY: “God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory” (1 Thess 2:12), and “He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess 2:14). 1 to 2 Thessalonians shows us four dimensions of the glory of God that He calls us to.The glory of God that we receive from God: “that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess 2:14). The glory of God that God reveals in us: “when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints” (2 Thess 1:10), and “the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you” (2 Thess 1:12). It is noteworthy that these two dimensions of the glory of God follow the relationship between Jesus and His Father: “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately” (Jn 13:31-32).The glory of God is God reigning over us. Clearly God’s “kingdom and glory” that He calls us to are interrelated (1 Thess 2:12). Being in God’s kingdom is being under God’s kingship. The glory of God is God residing with us. The “presence of the Lord” that we will be in at Christ’s Second Coming is also “the glory of His might” (2 Thess 1:9).Recognise that this glory of God in our present journey and as our future destiny in Christ is God’s “grace” (2 Thess 1:12).