Who Am I? I Am Living within His Glory.

What is the Glory of God?

This is something nonbelievers and new Believers hear in Christian circles, but often do not understand. 

What is it?  

According to Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (http://carm.org), "The phrase "glory of the Lord" appears 36 times in the KJV.  Glory is synonomous with splendor, honor, praise, worthiness, etc.  The phrase is used to describe the manifestation of God's greatness (Ex. 16:10) and is seen as a consuming fire (Ex. 24:17), a cloud (1 Kings 8:11), radiance (Ezek. 1:26-28), and brightness (Ezek. 10:4).  It fills the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) and can be seen (Num. 16:42), and can bring fear (Luke 2:9).  See also Glory of God.

The word glory  is used of God and men.  But the phrase "glory of God" is, of course, used only of God and designates God's greatness (Psalm 19:1), mystery (Prov. 25:2), splendor (Acts 7:55; Rev. 15:7; 21:22), a standard of perfection (Rom. 3:23), a goal (1 Cor. 10:31).

In the Old Testament the word for "glory" is the Hebrew word   כָּבֹוד "kabowd" which carries the idea of heaviness and weight.  In the New Testament the Greek word is  δόξα "doxa" which carries the idea of opinion, judgment, estimate, spendour, brightness, etc.

Glory is spoken of in reference to people (Prov. 16:31) and God (Gen. 49:6; Psa. 3:3).  Glory is given by God (Psa. 84:11) and also is a manifestion of God's greatness and presence that is awesome to behold (Gen. 33:22;Exo. 40:34; Num. 14:10).

In short, the Glory of God is the manifested presence of God.

The bible first defines glory in the book of Genesis with the account of Joseph.  Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery (Gen 37:18-36).  Due to the favor of God upon His life, Joseph was delivered from many situations.  He was reunited with his brothers during a famine in the land, when they came searching for food.  This is where we find "glory" mentioned (Genesis 45:13), "And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither."

Photo Credit:
http://quenchnot.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/god-gets-the-glory/

Glory in this verse refers to the blessing upon Joseph's life; God's blessing and favor operating within it, including his wealth and other assets, and preferential treatment.  Because of God's Glory upon His life (not anything Joseph did on His own), Joseph could say, "It is the God whom I serve."  

 After becoming a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), our lives should not be the same as they were before we came to know Him as our Lord and  Savior.  As we spiritually grow and come to know who we are in Christ, our lives can reflect God's blessing and favor in every area.  The Message translation says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "The old life is gone."  

Joseph's life displayed "the manifested presence of God" through the blessing and favor he received from God.  When people in your "sphere of influence" see God's blessing and favor upon your life; that is, when the people around you in your daily lives see God's blessing and favor upon you as you go about conducting your daily business, they want what they see.  They may even ask you what it is you do to be successful.  Your reply, "It is the God whom I serve."  You are a walking testimony.

The blessing and favor God upon your life as a believer, draws others around you to God, to receive Jesus as their Lord and  Savior.