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2 Corinthians 3:18 - More and More Like Jesus!

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with 
unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are 
being transformed into the same image from one 
degree of glory to another. For this comes from the 
Lord who is the Spirit. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   When two people have been married for a 
while, they start becoming like each other. This 
has happened with my wife and me. We know each 
other so well that I can start a sentence, and she 
can finish it. She knows what I'm thinking, even 
when I'm not saying it. I'm just amazed at her 
intuition. But I can usually read her as well. Having 
been married for more than three decades now, 
we've spent a long time together. 
   This is even more the case when we have 
been spending time with Jesus Christ. We become 
like Him, "a chip off of the ol' Rock," we might 
say. This is God's ultimate plan for every 
Christian - to make us like Jesus. 
   We see this in the life of Peter. He was 
burned by the enemy's fire when he denied the Lord. 
But when touched with the Spirit's fire at 
Pentecost, he became the new- and-improved Peter. The 
same thing that happened to him can happen to 
you. The same power is available to every 
believer. That's because when someone has been with 
Jesus - and by that I mean, when they spend time 
in the Lord's presence and spend time growing 
spiritually - they will become more like Him. 
   Before you ever made your appearance on 
earth, God chose you. God knew there would come a 
day when you would put your faith in Him, and He 
chose you before you chose Him. And what is His 
goal for you? His goal is that you might become 
like Jesus. 
   Many of us know and can quote Romans 8:28 
- the verse that starts, "And we know that in 
all things God works for the good.... But the 
verse that follows, Romans 8:29, is every bit as 
important. Here are the two verses together: "And we 
know that in all things God works for the good of 
those who love him, who have been called according 
to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also 
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, 
that he might be the firstborn among many 
brothers and sisters" (NIV). 
   We are being shaped and conformed - 
sometimes through our hardships and trials - to be 
more and more like God's Son. [Every Day with 
Jesus by Greg Laurie] 

COMMENTARY

Seeking the Savior
   Simeon said, Can I stay alive until I 
see him? 
   The Magi said, Saddle up the camels. 
We arent stopping until we find him. 
   The shepherds said, Lets go. 
Lets see. 
   They wanted the Savior. They wanted to 
see Jesus. 
   They were earnest in their search. One 
translation renders Hebrews 11:6: God  rewards 
those who earnestly seek him (NIV, italics 
mine). 
   Another reads: God rewards those who 
search for him (PHILLIPS, italics mine). 
   And another: God  rewards those who 
sincerely look for him (TLB, italics mine). 
   I like the King James translation: He 
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek 
him (italics mine). 
   Diligently - what a great word. Be 
diligent in your search. Be hungry in your quest, 
relentless in your pilgrimage. Let this book be but one 
of dozens you read about Jesus and this hour be 
but one of hundreds in which you seek him. Step 
away from the puny pursuits of possessions and 
positions, and seek your king. 
   Dont be satisfied with angels. Dont 
be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out 
as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeon 
did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John 
and Andrew did: ask for his address. Do as 
Matthew: invite Jesus into your house. Imitate 
Zacchaeus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ. 
   God rewards those who seek him. Not those 
who seek doctrine or religion or systems or 
creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but 
the reward goes to those who settle for nothing 
less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? 
What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short 
of the heart of Jesus. And as the Spirit of 
the Lord works within us, we become more and 
more like him (2 Cor. 3:18 TLB). 
   Can you think of a greater gift than to 
be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt; God wants 
to banish yours. Jesus had no bad habits; God 
wants to remove yours. Jesus had no fear of death; 
God wants you to be fearless. Jesus had kindness 
for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious 
and courage for the challenges. God wants you to 
have the same. 
   He loves you just the way you are, but he 
refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be 
just like Jesus. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at 
maxlucado.com] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

2 Corinthians 3:18 - What We Behold . We 
Become! 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200602-0907.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE 

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.revelationnow.com/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657