With Unveiled faces
Opening Prayer
Lord, remove the veil from my mind today, that through Scripture and by Your freeing Spirit, I might see Your glory.
Read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
[7] Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, [8] will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? [9] If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! [10] For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. [11] And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! [12] Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. [13] We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. [14] But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. [15] Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. [16] But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [17] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How is the veil removed?In common with the writer of Hebrews, Paul argues that the new covenant is far superior to the old. The old covenant, chiseled on stone tablets, came with fire and glory on Sinai, as Moses’ shining face bore testimony; but the new covenant, which sets us permanently right with God, also comes with its own glory (9,10). Where do we see this “glory”? The glory of God is the visible sign of his presence, reflecting his character, and Paul’s extraordinary assertion is that this glory, shining in the face of Christ, is now also reflected in us as we look to him. In so doing we are transformed more and more into Christ’s likeness (18). An explanation I favor is that it is through our fellow Christians that we further see the reflection of Christ’s glory. This glorious character remains supremely his, but it is “mirrored” in my brother or sister in Christ, however imperfectly; and the life through which they encounter Christ might well be mine, too. Fellowship is the crucible in which the Spirit purifies and transforms us. This glorious, terrifying responsibility calls from me a life that, like a mirror, I keep “polished” by a constant “turning to the Lord” (16) and letting his glory be seen in me.
Apply
Turn to Christ today and trust that as you look to him, his likeness is being formed in you.
Closing prayer
Lord, I turn again to You today. Let Your glory be seen in me, and let me recognize Your glory in others.
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