God's Glory

And Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded you to do so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.” [Leviticus 9.6]

If the glory of the Lord was going to manifest today, what would be required? Sacrifices? Offerings?

Without being too vague, every sacrifice or offering required in the Old Testament for God's glory to manifest has been fulfilled in Jesus. 

So why is not the manifestation of God's glory commonplace today?

I think New Testament discussions about faith explain why.

Abraham, the noted 'father of faith,' started off a long list of 'faith' responses to God by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Every obedient sacrifice and offering following this event can be seen as (at least potential) acts of faith.

Jesus performed the 'ultimate sacrifice' both as human (laid down His life for His friends) and as God (for God so loved the world that He gave...). In so doing, every mandate for sacrifices and offerings was fulfilled for eternity. However, as seen in Abraham, the obedience of faith remains a requirement.

Jesus' work on our behalf is only activated - can only be received - by faith. And, when all the requirements of sacrifices and offerings have been met, we might experience the glory of God. But again, faith is the catalyst.

So, why don't we see the glory of God manifest? The obvious and simple answer is because we do not truly and humbly believe.

Father, help us to discard our ideas about religion and doctrines of man designed to shroud man's pride. Help us instead to embrace the Truth in humility and sincerity so that we might genuinely experience all Your glory!