God's Plan to Reach the World

It is our most awesome privilege to reflect God to the world around us. But can we truly reflect the glory of a holy God? Yet we hear God's plan is for us to do just that: "Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD when I show myself holy through you before their eyes" (Ezekiel 36:23).

God wants the world to see the beauty of His holiness in us. A startling but marvelous thought!

Second Chronicles 20 gives us a hint of what that holiness will look like. When Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the beauty of His holiness, they didn't mention the word "holiness" in their song. Instead, they sang, "Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever" (2 Chronicles 20:21).

Without doubt, His holiness in us will look like love--not a self-serving love--but God's love that endures forever.

We cannot create this kind of holy love within ourselves. Jesus is love. We give Him access to every corner of our lives, and He fills us with Himself. Then, daily, moment by moment, as we draw from Him, He has the pleasure of expressing His love through us.

"Then the world will...understand that [God] love(s) them" (John 17:23 NLT) when they see God's holiness in us!

I praise You, Father, for Your amazing plan to reach the world.

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).