A Brighter Shine
Opening Prayer
Whom we spend time with changes us. Pray for God to stir your heart to pursue the best company of all.
Read Exodus 34:29–35
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.
33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Can people tell by looking at you that you have been with Jesus?Moses had asked to see the glory of God, he had heard about the glory of God and now he reflected the glory of God. He was unaware of how he looked because he was not looking at himself. This must have been a powerful testimony to the glorious company Moses was keeping when he spent time with God.
Later on Paul recalled this passage and underlined the wonder of a God who dwells with us and in us. In 2 Corinthians 3:7–11, Paul compares Moses’ ministry of condemnation with our ministry of righteousness. He compares Moses’ temporary ministry with our permanent situation. That is, we do not have periodic encounters with God that leave an external mark on us.
We have the internal presence of God by the Holy Spirit. So as we spend time gazing on the face of Jesus—reading our Bible, praying, worshipping—the result is a genuine transformation as we are transformed by God’s glory into a brighter and more glorious representation of him.
Apply
When you spend time with God, are you focused more on yourself or more on Christ? Fix your eyes on Christ today!
Closing prayer
We worship Jesus for who he is. Think of as many reasons as you can to worship Jesus. Say them out loud as a symphony of praise.
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