When Jesus accepted the will of the Father He accepted the radical weakness of human nature—an utter stripping and abandonment. “He poured out His soul until death” (Isa. 53:12, NIV). When He rose from the grave, He was filled with power—that omnipotence which is the Life of God. This immolation and glory are the two great elements of our salvation, and we may not receive salvation without receiving death and resurrection. It is a radical surrender in humility—“I am crucified”—and a radical rising in power and newness of life—“not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20, KJV).
Salvation consists in the total welcome given by weakness to glory.
Each fresh experience that requires a voluntary laying down of my will (when, for example, someone else’s will crosses mine, someone else is preferred before me, someone else’s convenience means my inconvenience) is my chance to welcome glory—to say, “Come in, Lord Jesus. Rule in my heart.”
And so I am being redeemed, being saved, being changed from glory to glory.
**Excerpt originally published in The Music of His Promises, p. 182-183