This morning we had a prayer breakfast up at church that was led by our pastor. We are studying the life of Simon Peter in a series called "The Man God Uses" on the first Thursday of each month. Today we focused on the continual transformation that occurs as Christ works on us to change us into His image. I really appreciated the emphasis of sanctification from our pastor, and it was great to see him open up to us and be real and transparent about being a man, husband, and father.
Interestingly enough, the two chapters from 2 Corinthians this morning go hand-in-hand with the prayer breakfast topic. I discovered a different connotation of the word, "glorification" this morning, and it goes right along with sanctification. Now, most of the time, when we say, "glorification," we refer to the completion of sanctification - the point at which we are made perfect in Heaven. However, here I use the word to describe the process by which the Holy Spirit glows inside us like a light bulb coming on - brighter and brighter. As we are transformed into His likeness, then we reflect His glory better and better so that, in a way, we are experiencing "glorification."
3:7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses' face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn't we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! ... 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
Application - I'm going to live my life like a light bulb, shining Christ's light everywhere. I'm going to be joyful and peaceful and loving, not because of me but because of God's grace working through me as a result of what Christ did on the cross. The Holy Spirit is changing me more and more so that over the period of a couple of months, you will see a change in me. He is renewing me and regenerating me - He is using spiritual Windex to make this mirror of my life reflect God's glory better and better.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for seeing me exactly the way I am and loving me in spite of my wickedness. I praise you for being loving and compassionate. Jesus, thank you for your perfect and infinite work on the cross. Holy Spirit, I pray that you will transform me into the image of Christ - glory unto glory. Lord, please use me to lead others along this path of transformation also. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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