Posted by Daisy
Deep wells of glory behind common faces
Where is the wonder, where is the wonder?
~ Sara Groves
I have never heard a complete and thorough description of the way we are made in the image of God. People have suggestions and ideas, but nothing certain. Still, the idea is pretty wonderful, especially considering all the ways in which we and the Creator of the universe are different – and there are many. But we are clearly told that the lives of men and women have value because they were made in His image. (Genesis 9:6)
In the Old Testament the glory of God dwelt first in the tabernacle and then in the temple, but anyone who had their head on straight knew that a building could never hold God; there was just no use. I mean really, to expect someone who fills up an entire universe, the ends of which we have yet to find, is quite ludicrous. David knew this; Solomon knew this, and yet God chose to be associated with those places and objects in order to meet with His people.
With the advent of the ministry of Christ things began to change, and before He ascended Jesus promised His disciples that His Spirit would be with them in a way that had not been the case before. In numerous places the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit as a seal, a down payment or deposit given to believers. In the past year or so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this “deposit” we’ve been given.
It makes sense to me that God would have to use a priceless commodity to redeem us nasty little humans. I mean, with the kind of sins I myself have committed in my brief 34 years – to be just and still justify me, I can see how that took the sacrifice of Christ. That part makes sense to me. But a down payment? That could have been made with something a lot less priceless. God used a lot of festivals and ceremonies to remind His people of His faithfulness to them and His ability to save – perhaps he could have used something like that as a down payment. And yet instead, in keeping with His unbelievable graciousness, He left us His very own Spirit. That is wonderful. Not only does this down payment remind us that God will redeem what he has purchased, but it is also a pledge of our inheritance.
I think this “glory behind common faces” we see each day should change us in three ways:
1. We should be lost in wonder when we think about all of the “good pleasure of God’s will” that led to our seal in Christ, the Holy Spirit of promise, and our inheritance to come.
2. This wonder should affect the way we live each day, remembering that God is returning for his purchased possession, and we must make ourselves ready.
3. Lastly, I have a feeling that if we really saw those around us as creatures made in the image of God, and some of those creatures to be the very temples of God’s Holy Spirit, they would be much easier to serve – not out of duty, but out of joy.
I don’t want to go another day without being swallowed up in the wonder of His grace and glory.




