Get a Glimpse of His Excellency Today

Sometimes I will hear one word in my head over and over again at various times it will resonate as if someone is speaking a word to me intentionally.  Now I know that that is usually the Lord giving me something to use to search Him out in a greater manner.

For the past month the word 'excellency" has resounded in a still small voice and I hear Him say,

'Focus on my excellency today, keep your eyes looking for me.'

I looked up in the sky one day and see the clouds parting and I think of Jesus' return.

In Luke 21:25-28 Jesus describes what the state of mankind will be and what His return will look like.

"And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon and stars.  

And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, 

perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.  

People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, 

for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.  

Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud 

with power and great glory.  

So when all these things begin to happen, 

stand and look up, for your salvation is near!"

In the midst of great confusion and uncertainty Jesus tells us to look up to Him!  He will make everything right.  He is our redemption!  He is our hope!  His excellency and power will be made known to all and we have an advantage because we have access to this power in our lives now.

Salvation is not a one day event but an ongoing process in the life of a Christian.  We will face many fiery trials and fearful moments in our lives but the Lord, He is with us!

Deuteronomy 33:26

"There is none like the God of Israel,

 He rides across the heavens to help you, 

across the skies in majestic splendor (KJV excellency).  

The eternal God is your refuge, 

and his everlasting arms are under you.  

He drives out the enemy before you;  

he cries out, 'Destroy them!'  

This picture of God rescuing us from our enemies reminds me of Psalm 18.

Psalm 18:3-6

I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, 

and he saved me from my enemies.  

The ropes of death entangled me;  

floods of destruction swept over me.  

The grave wrapped its ropes around me; 

 death laid a trap in my path.  

But in my distress I cried out to the LORD;  

yes, I prayed to my God for help.  

He heard me from his sanctuary;  

my cry to him reached his ears.  

We can be certain that God indeed hears our cries for help when we pray.    When we focus on the earthly struggles and the traps that the enemy sets for us, we lose sight of the excellency of Christ.

He is our strength, our rock, 

our fortress and our Savior.  

He will protect us in the evil day.

And look how the Psalmist describes the Lord's response to our prayers;

Then the earth quaked and trembled.  

The foundations of the mountains shook;  

they quaked because of his anger.  

Smoke poured from his nostrils; 

fierce flames leaped from his mouth.  

Glowing coals blazed forth from him.  

He opened the heavens and came down;  

dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.  

Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, 

soaring on the wings of the wind.  

He shrouded himself in darkness, 

veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.  

This clouds shielded the brightness around him 

and rained down hail and burning coals.  

The LORD thundered from heaven;  

the voice of the Most High 

resounded amid the hail and burning coals. 

He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;  

great bolts of lightning flashed, 

and they were confused.  

Then at your command, O LORD, 

at the blast of your breath, 

the bottom of the sea could be seen, 

and the foundations of the earth were laid bare. 

 He reached down from heaven and rescued me; 

 he drew me out of deep waters. 

He rescued me from my powerful enemies, 

from those who hated me and were too strong for me.  

They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, 

but the LORD supported me.  

He led me to a place of safety; 

he rescued me because he delights in me.

Father, thank you that you are a God who saves!  Not on the basis of our goodness but on the basis of Christ Jesus and His excellency toward us who believe! 

 Thank you that you moved heaven and earth to save us and that you are the same yesterday, today and forever so we can rest in your might and dominion and sovereignty over our lives that you will do it again.  

When the enemy comes in like a flood, I thank you Lord that you set up a standard against him for your people.  Again and again you save us and redeem us out of the hand of our enemies.  

Help us to get a glimpse of Your excellency today and peer into the clouds, awaiting Your faithful arrival into the troubled waters of our hearts and lives.  Blast your great breath we pray and expose the false foundations in our heart where we have been deceived that we are standing on solid ground but were not.