Fading Glory versus Remaining Glory
Like a light that never goes out, the glory of grace radiates from within.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash
In this reflection from Day by Day by Grace, we are reminded of the stark contrast between the old covenant, which was written in stone and dependent on man’s sufficiency, and the new covenant of grace, which is written on our hearts and sustained by God’s own life within us. The old covenant was not without glory—it came with thunder, shining faces, and divine declarations. But it was a fading glory. It revealed the holiness of God, yet could not supply the power to live in that holiness. It shone brightly for a moment, only to dim with time, exposing human inadequacy.
But the new covenant—the covenant of grace—brings a glory that doesn’t fade. It is not sourced in man’s attempts but in God’s accomplishment. While the old was meant to convict, the new is meant to transform. Christ has fulfilled the law and now lives in us to be our sufficiency. The result is not a temporary spiritual high, but a constant radiance of glory—the kind that remains because it is birthed and sustained by grace.
To live by the law is to choose the exhausting cycle of striving and fading. To live by grace is to rest in the sufficiency of Christ, drawing daily from His life within. That is the glory that remains.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit
My child, you were not born again to chase the vanishing glow of performance. I have not called you to a fading glory, but to the brilliance of My presence that never dims. The old covenant carved on stone could only diagnose your condition. It showed you what holiness looked like but gave no power to walk in it. It came with glory, but not life.
Now you live under a better promise—a new and living way. I have removed your sin, not just from record but from dominion. I live within you, not to remind you of your weakness but to be your Life. The law once said, "Do this and live," but I say, "Live in Me and you will do." The glory you carry now is not borrowed or momentary; it is eternal, because it flows from Me.
When you rest in My sufficiency, when you yield to My indwelling presence, you will find a quiet, unfading glory that does not wane with mood or effort. It is not a performance; it is participation in the divine. Trust what I have done. Let go of trying to manage your righteousness. Let Me be your righteousness.
The veil is gone. The fading light has passed. The radiance that now fills your heart is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ—and that face shines within you.
Scriptures referenced: 2 Corinthians 3:7, 3:11; Hebrews 8:13; Romans 8:3
Real-Life Analogy
It's like a glow-in-the-dark sticker. When first exposed to light, it shines brightly—but only for a short while before the glow fades. It needs constant recharging under a light source. But now imagine replacing that sticker with a small, built-in light that’s wired directly to a never-ending power supply. It doesn’t glow because of an external source—it shines because the power is within it. That’s the difference between the fading glow of self-effort and the steady radiance of grace.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that I no longer live under a covenant that depends on my ability to keep it. I rejoice that I am now under grace, with a glory that doesn’t fade because it flows from You. I rest in the sufficiency of Christ in me and trust that His life in me is enough—always enough. Thank You that I no longer need to chase after temporary highs or perform to remain in Your favor. I am in Christ, and He is in me. That is glory enough to last forever.