| from Stephen Baker |
1 Corinthians 10:31 states, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” As I sit outside the Texas oncology building waiting on Joyce to finish her appointment, I contemplate the depth of this passage. How does God intend to get glory from the ongoing progression and treatment of this disease?
I remember the first great significant passage of scripture on the glory of God. The Israelites were fleeing Egypt and the pillar of fire came down from Heaven and stood between them and the pursuing Egyptian army. That pillar of fire by night and cloud by day was a manifestation of the goodness, power, and holiness of the only true and living God. When the tabernacle was built later at Mt. Sinai, that cloud filled it and all the people stood in awe.
Later in history, when Solomon built the temple as a house for God to dwell in, that cloud of God’s glory again filled the temple. The people of that generation were in awe of the presence of God.
What exactly is this glory? It is the manifestation of God Himself:
- His revealing Himself and His nature and character.
- It is His unveiling of His holy, pure, good, loving, righteous, just, kind, and benevolent heart.
- It is the understanding of His omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent nature. (almighty/infinite in power, present everywhere at the same time, unlimited knowledge, and unending kindness)
- It is Jesus. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Amazingly enough, Jesus stated as recorded in John 17:22, “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.”
So what would God’s purpose be? Paul concluded, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone 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 jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair…struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-12)
We do not yet know the process and progression of Joyce’s disease treatments. We do know that God will manifest Himself through it and through her to bring glory to Himself and to be a light to the world watching. “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen,” (Ephesians 3:21).
Stephen Baker and his wife, Joyce have been two of Dr. Kathy’s thought-leaders for years. Now they’re both Celebrate Kids Associate Speakers and Writers. They work closely together. Steve has served in ministry for almost 40 years. With his heart for discipleship, he has worked as a senior pastor, associate pastor, teacher, coach, and hospice chaplain. Steve has a passion for families, mentoring believers, and discipling parents to walk in this world humbly and boldly as warriors sharing the powerful message of the gospel to all people.
