Hello Friends-In the change of schedule and craziness of the weekend. I wrote a post for the 29th thinking Monday was the 29th. I am sure God knows what He is doing with my mishap.>
"So all of us who had the veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord."
2 Corinthians 3:18
It brought me joy to take a walk down memory lane and remember Moses as he received the law from God. It was like visiting the memory of a good friend. Moses was not allowed to look at God face-to-face. God did, however, permit Moses to see His back as He passed by. This quick glimpse of God had a profound effect on Moses, not only Moses but everyone who saw Moses after returning from Mt. Sinai.
When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD. So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.
Exodus 34:29-30
Exodus 34:29-30
Moses immediately veiled his face until the radiant glow faded.
Paul refers to the veil as the darkness that covers the mind from the truth of God-the "old way" of life-the old covenant. When anyone comes to Christ he/she is a new creation (3:11) is covered under the new covenant through Jesus Christ. Under the new covenant the veil is lifted, the darkness is now gone, there is only light.
Through the new covenant we can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. We are becoming more like Him every day. I love the NASB (3:18):
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
How are we transformed? Paul answers that question in Romans 12:2:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
We are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Renew in the Greek means a complete change for the better. We renew our minds-change ourselves for the better-by spending time with God every day. Through prayer, fellowship, worship, and the study of His Word we are changed for the better. When we spend this time with God and the change happens we will not only reflect the glory of the Lord but we will be able to see it.
Our study of God's Word and time spent with Him will have a profound effect on us as well as those around us. Our radiant glow will not be temporary like Moses' nor will it frighten people. Our radiant glow will never fade and will draw people to us then we will point them to our Savior. The glory reflected will be glory deflected to Jesus Christ.
P.S. You will love The Message (16-18)
Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
6 Comments:
Dear Wendy,
It's alright to have been off a day after the long weekend! I appreciated your insight.
Today I had a hard time picking the right verses to focus on. There are so many life-application verses in Paul's letters! So today I focus on Chapter 7.
1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
Cleanse ourselves; both body and spirit because we fear God. Our mental state, our heart state, can be so much more difficult to deal with than obvious sins carried out openly (bodily sins). They are more insidious. They burrow in to our inmost beings and become unconscious. They consist of pride, malice, self-righteousness, bitterness... Sound familiar? The Pharisees at the time of Jesus exhibited all these things and they had the hardest time turning from them to be redeemed by Christ.
Because we fear God. We love God, but we should also fear Him. He is the God of mercy, but He is also Almighty God. He has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy and He hardens whom He wants to harden (Romans 9:18). He has made it clear that He knows the motivations of men and he knows what is in our hearts. Since we are the temple of His Spirit, we are to keep ourselves clean inside and out.
Notice that Paul included himself in this statement "cleanse ourselves". He did not consider himself as already there. He continues to admit his own weakness and imperfections to his audience so that they together can support each other in their transformation.
Today I move to our permanent address here in Basel. In two days the cats arrive (I hope okay with the long trip) and in two weeks my husband arrives. I hope you have a blessed week!
Karen, Basel
Oh Wendy, your post was a perfect way to begin the week and I know it was meant to be! Wow, to really let it sink in. God, living and personal, present, His Spirit in us! The more we know Him through His Word, the more we are transformed. His Glory is what gets me excited. I anticipate this in my day, and what hit me reading your post Wendy, was when you gave us the NASB version, from glory to glory! Can you imagine...seeing Glory back to back...!!!! Oh, now that is something to look forward to! Maybe today! :) To be so filled up with Him and not in our self, that we see His Glory back to back!!!!!!!!!! AND, that people are drawn to us because of it! Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!
Karen, I loved what you said about "together supporting each other in their transformation." This is so important that we as believers spend time together. Paul talks about this in today's reading. Notice his 5 questions that he begins with, (2 Cor. 6:14-16). James reminds us, "If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God," (James 4:4). The believer and the non-believer each have a different master. We need to think about the activities that we are involved in. Are they drawing us closer to God? "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession," (Deut. 14:2). Don't ya just love that we are His treasured possession?! Ok, now off to read your post again Wendy! :)
enJOY toDAY! Hugs, love, & prayers coming your way! Lori - AZ
PS Glad I tuned in to yesterday's comments...Diane, you just make me laugh!!! I am praying for you this week re: your upcoming mtg.
Wendy, I've already been praying today that I will reflect God's glory in my response to my nephew. A veil of darkness still covers his mind. I reached out to him in kindness yesterday, but his response has left me so confused.
I'm trying to reconcile offering forgiveness, love and acceptance with contronting sin, consequences and justice. How can someone, living and making choices so blatantly contrary to God's Word, speak so many accusations against his family who is in so much pain? He is looking for Christ in my response to all he has done. He is quick to point out that Jesus loved the sinner. Yet, I see his life a perfect illustration of sinning more so that grace may abound. I'm struggling so much in finding the balance. Everyone else has abandoned him. Someone has to still remind him that Jesus loves him, but finding the way to do that without excusing what he has done has me so confused right now.
Needing God's divine guidance.
Shine Jesus shine,
Joy
Good Monday morning! Another good day of reading....I underlined the verse that spoke about sorrow moving us toward salvation. When our days are happy and uneventful it's so easy to get content and lazy in our faith walk. God allows us to have sorrowful times to draw us to Him. I need to remind myself of that...so much sorrow around me these days.
Joy, I am experiencing a similar family situation that you talk about regarding your nephew. I too struggle with loving the person yet not excusing the sin. Such a fine line to walk there. I feel your struggle.
Diane - you cracked me up too! Thanks for the Black Friday tips....but I still won't take the bait!
Praying for you all in your needs.
Morgen
Oh, every day has been so full of lessons and truths it scarcely matters if we are a day off or ahead! It's been adrenaline pumping spirit led excitement to feast on the word and to digest it all. Hundreds of gifts, waiting to be opened...and we all help each other get the best from each one!
My lesson today "When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them." 2Corinthians 10:18
Lord thank you from stopping my hand to reach behind and pat my own back. Let me instead listen for your applause.
Praying for a blessed week for you all as we prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts and lives this Advent,
Liz
AK
Just returning with a personal thought from today's reading.
"...God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus." 2 Corinthians 7:6
Friends are so valuable. Titus was God's gift to Paul at the perfect time.
"...the arrival of Titus." Titus just showed up. "His presence was a joy..." vs.7
Sometimes God allows someone to just "show up" in our life as well. Just when we think we can't go another day, a phone call, a note, the doorbell and God's presence is evidenced in a personal way.
Maybe today you could give or receive the Titus touch,
Joy
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