Okay . . . I guess there’s glory, and then, there’s glory. Glory we give and, according to Paul this morning, glory we get. I know, sounds weird to even think about “to me be the glory”, but get used to it, it’s gonna happen.

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this He called you through our gospel . . .

(2Thessalonians 2:13-14a ESV)

If you’re a brother in Christ, if you’re a sister, then know that God chose you to be saved. And, after being declared holy, you then become a work-in-progress being made holy through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. God’s choosing made effectual as He called you through our gospel. That’s the dynamic of salvation.

And for what purpose?

Brace yourself . . . Hold on to your hats . . . Get ready to pick your jaw up off the floor. . .

. . . so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(2Thessalonians 2:14b ESV)

What!?!? To me be the glory? Yup, to me be the glory.

As Peterson puts it, we “get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ” (MSG). That’s the prize.

Not glory as in obtaining Jesus’ praise, but glory as in experiencing Jesus’ presence. We get to share in the majesty, splendor, and honor of the One who now is seated at the right hand of the Father because — soon and very soon — we will be with the One who is now seated at the right hand of the Father, face to face (1Cor. 13:12a).

That was the Son’s ask on the night He was betrayed: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory” (Jn. 17:24).

That is the Spirit’s assignment each day we awake, that even as we now by faith are “beholding the glory of the Lord”, we are also being “transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2Cor. 3:18).

Because it’s been the Father’s agenda always, that those called through the gospel should obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sharing in His exalted state . . . If we truly are in Christ and if Christ really does live in us — if our union with Christ is actually a union with Christ — then I guess it makes sense that what’s His is ours. True of His righteousness which justifies, true of His resplendence which glorifies.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

(1John 3:2 ESV)

We shall be like Him . . .

That we may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .

To me be the glory . . .

Chew on that for a bit.

By God’s overflowing grace.

For God’s worship evoking glory.