Mirror, mirror…

Mirror, mirror…
From the Nov. 16th reading
 
How is your life being transformed? How are you being changed “from glory to glory”?
 
SCRIPTURE:
READ: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
 
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (NIV)
 
OBSERVATIONS:
  • We have unveiled faces – the law and put a veil over our faces (v. 15)
  • We now reflect God’s glory
  • We are “being transformed into His likeness.” (Rom. 12:2) (gr. metamorphosis)
  • “With ever increasing glory” = our glory is eternal
  • As we become more like Him the glory increases (Sanctification)
  • This glory comes from Jesus – He shares it with us.

  APPLICATION:

  • We are to reflect Jesus’ glory to others – Be a light!
  • We need to work towards being transformed into His likeness
  • We need His Spirit working in us to be changed
  • We need to be transformed by His Word (Rom. 12:2)
  • His glory in us will either draw others to Him or repel them (2 Cor. 2:16)
 
MOTIVATION:
Working with teenagers I am constantly reminded of the changes that occur and how confusing that stage of life can be. I remember the embarrassment of pimples, and the drastic changes that were occurring in my body during those years. I remember having a manly voice once second, and a squeaky voice the next. This was always good for a laugh, but at my expense. I also remember struggling with who I was, and who I wanted to become. It was a time of confusion, bewilderment and change.
 
During my Senior Year of High School I became a Christian, and in some ways the cycle of change started all over again. Now I was a new Christian, and as a believer I had a lot of changes to make. In fact, like most people, I still do. During those first few years there was a lot of change going on inside of me. I was learning a whole new language, a new way of speaking. I met people who were different from anyone else I had ever known, and I wanted to be like them. Jesus began doing a work in me that I never thought was possible. I witness this same kind of change in new believers all of the time. Many of them grow like weeds, and this change, can sometimes be very confusing.
 
This is the kind of change that this passage is talking about. We went from being “veiled” to His truth and righteousness, to being “unveiled” and sharing in His glory. As one author has put it, we are traveling from “justification through sanctification to glorification.”[i] In other words, we are progressively being transformed into His likeness. After all, Christ-likeness is the goal for the believer.
 
Paul used the example of Moses wearing the veil to illustrate the veil that is blinding the unbeliever from the truth of the gospel, and he used the glory that shone on Moses’ face to illustrate the eternal glory that we share today.
 
Warren Wiersbe had this to say: “This verse is the climax of the chapter, and it presents a truth so exciting that I marvel so many believers have missed it—or ignored it. You and I can share the image of Jesus Christ and go ‘from glory to glory’ through the ministry of the Spirit of God!”[ii] Unlike Moses we don’t have to climb a mountain to have fellowship with God. Because of Jesus Christ we can enter the very holy of holies, and in the process look more and more like Him!
 
Where are you in this journey of transformation? Are you just starting out or have you stalled out? Are you soaring like an eagle or are you wallowing like a turkey? Wherever you are at in your journey, the key is to spend time at Jesus feet – by spending time in His Word and in prayer. It also means allowing His Spirit to progressively work in you more and more.
 
A book that I highly recommend is “The Divine Mentor”, by Wayne Cordiero. Along with that is the Life Journal. Both of these books have set me on a journey that is over two years old now. A journey of transformation, a change from “glory to glory”. I hope that you will join me by taking a six week challenge of using the Life Journal. If you try it out and work at it consistently, I can almost guarantee a change in your life, and in your walk with Christ. (see below to get a copy)
 
I would love to hear what God is doing in your life, and how God’s Word has transformed your life!
 
PRAYER:
Ask God to give you a hunger for His word and that, by the Holy Spirit, your life would be transformed.
 
Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.
www.lifejournal.cc
 
If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com
 
 
[i] Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 562). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[ii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 640). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

One Response to “Mirror, mirror…”

  1. Christine Brann says:

    This was very good. When I think about Christ-likeness, and ask myself if am becoming more Christ-like I feel unworthy…He is so good. I want to be like Him. I wait on Him and He brings to my heart my Spiritual gifts. I wish I could expound but…To Him be the glory. And thank you, Father in heaven

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