{{2016_02_16_t1.jpg}} {{2016_02_16_t2.jpg}} {{2016_02_16_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2016_02_16|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_viii|| Topics Collection viii ]] ======Joy and Glory ...====== Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016. What does it need to give you joy? What is it that gives you glory? What is it that fills you with satisfaction? I have been looking into some Hindu art last weekend, and one of the observations you make is that their God's are just of human form - beautiful women. And clearly, humans have their glory, they are beautiful, they are nicely made, wonderful creatures! {{2016_02_16.jpg }} **Back to the roots ...** When I search for wonders in our modern world, I end up with simple humans again and again. It is not that the wonders would be particular events. They are not the high times, few days in our life where we make special experiences. No! The true and lasting wonder of our life is our own existence, our own reason, our feelings, our ability to act, our physical body, our biology and chemistry. But more than that, our art, our community, our ability, our language, our expressions of personality, childhood, adolescence, age ... fascinating! What does it need to unveil our full potential. What is needed to unveil the full humanity of humans? What is needed to unveil our potential to be interested in one another, to build up relationships, to live in truth, in peace, in joy? There are many voices in our world offering interpretations. And there is the biblical message, there are the gospels, the books of the apostles, there is the word of Jesus, with the ability to guide us and to help us to understand. The bible passes down the message that we can only become fully human, when we find God, the creator, and when we are reconciled, healed and helped by his power in Christ Jesus. In his spirit, we will become free from the bonds of illusion - step by step, not necessarily in one day. But we will start a journey, which means life! {{ 2016_02_16_2.jpg}} **From one degree of glory to another ...** Let us read from the letters to the Corinthians: 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3, 17ff) You can get a sense of the glory of the Lord, when you look into his creation. He has made humans in his image. They reflect his unlimited glory. And humans are full of glory, even if it is twisted and diluted. Even if it is destroyed by fraud, by lies, by cheating, by pain. It is difficult to destroy the glory and dignity which the Lord has put into each and every single human life, as if it would be valuable to him highly above everything else! Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. There is joy. There is glory - a glory which is far beyond our worldly glory, which is much deeper than all we know. We can be so glad to get a sense of his glory, and to be taken into his kingdom, just by faith, already now, with his joy being our consolation, our joy and our hope, a mighty joy for every day! (RWEP) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_viii|... more texts]]