From One Degree of Glory

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Opening Prayer

Holy Spirit, You bring so much into my life: freedom, peace, wisdom, power. I am forever grateful.

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.

Meditate

“To glorify God means to think and act in such a way that the goodness, greatness, and beauty of God are constantly obvious to ourselves and all those around us” (Dallas Willard, 1935-2013).

Think Further

It is rather strong language to describe the Law as the ministry of death and of condemnation (7,9). Paul’s treatment of the same theme elsewhere is helpful in understanding what he means by this. He told the Galatians that if any law could have been the agent of life, then righteousness would have come by the Law (Gal. 3:21). Rather, he lamented how the Law, “which promised life proved to be death to me. . . deceived me, and. . . killed me” (Rom. 7:9-11, RSV).

There was high drama at the giving of the Law to the children of Israel. First there was the shock and awe of the thunder and lightning on the smoking mountain when God pronounced the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:18-19). It was so frightful that the people requested Moses to receive the rest on their behalf. Then there was this incident of Moses coming back with his face actually glowing when he brought back the two tablets of the Law after 40 days with God on the mountain (Exod. 34:29). If all of that was to herald what is now described as the ministry of condemnation, Paul had good reason to wonder what glory is reserved for the ministry of righteousness and of the Spirit (8-9).

The important question is not the big fanfare but what difference it all makes to those involved. Moses put a veil over his face because it dazzled the people; but this was only a metaphor for the veil that covered their hearts as regards the Law under the old covenant. How very different when the Lord who is Spirit removes the veil from the believer’s heart (16-17)! What is more, the transformation is reserved not only for giants of the faith but for “we all” (18)!

Apply

How do you think God is transforming you? What areas of your life do you want God to transform?

Closing prayer

Lord, I pray that Your goodness, greatness and beauty will increasingly be seen in me and through me.

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