Gloriographs by Rick Reynolds

If you’re in need of a sermon to get you going, loaded with theology and inspiration, these two verses are just that.

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25

This is a towering benediction most often offered to cap off a rich time in the word when powerful truths have been taught about Almighty God, yet, it is, in and of itself, that sermon.

Out of the gates, we serve a God who is able. When hiring someone you want someone capable, who has demonstrated proficiency and acumen in past work. Once you get to the Book of Jude, God is clearly able!

The geriatric can appreciate the need to avoid stumbling. One fall can spell doom. In our youth, we can stumble badly in everything because of our inexperience. Even the wise can miscalculate the terrain and be catapulted into disaster. My God keeps me from stumbling. It’s as if he’s always at the ready with his righteous right hand poised to catch me before I tumble.

He is strong enough to single-handedly make me stand. We should pray for this! Make me to stand in your presence. Make me to stand in your glory. Make me to stand before you blameless. Make me stand joyfully as only someone saved by your grace can!

We must give credit to whom it is due. To the only wise God. There is no other God by whom we can be saved. To Jesus Christ our Lord, who bled and died and rose again to rescue me, the means by which God the father chose to save me. A staggering plan worthy of perpetual thanksgiving.

Are there words of appreciation to say in light of so great a salvation? Yes! To God be all the “glory, majesty, dominion, and authority.”

To God who was, who is, and who ever shall be. There is no other God who meets these specifications. Acknowledging these truths, we can believe that before the foundation of the world, he made me, that he is my very present help in times of trouble, and that he’s gone before me to prepare a place in which I can enjoy him forever.

Amen.