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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.INTRODUCTION The more we know Christ, the more we reflect his glory. The glory that the Spirit imparts to the believer is more excellent and lasts longer than the glory that Moses experienced. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can be more like him. In the gospel, we see the truth about Christ, and it transforms us morally as we understand and apply it. Through learning about Christ's life, we can understand how wonderful God is and what he is really like. As our knowledge deepens, the Holy Spirit helps us to change. Becoming Christlike is a progressive experience (see Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:19; Philip. 3:21; 1 John 3:2). The more closely we follow Christ, the more we will be like him. [Life Application SB] COMMENTARY PEARL Reflecting God's Glory In Exodus 34, after Moses encountered the presence of the Lord on the mountaintop, his face shone bright like a light. God's presence was so powerful that it altered Moses' very appearance, demonstrating to every Israelite that he had been with the Lord Almighty. On this side of the cross, we have access to God that Moses could only dream of. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, you have the freedom to boldly come up the holy mountain of God. As you experience His glory and begin to comprehend His holiness, you, too, will be transformed to become more like Him - until your spirit shines bright, just like Moses' face. With every trip up the mountain, something will change in your heart. Every time you're with God, your soul will be altered. He promises to mold you into His likeness, and that is what the world needs more than anything - for every one of us to look more like God. He will shape your heart and strengthen your hands so that you can carry His glory wherever you go today. Dear God, show me Your glory and transform me, that I may reflect Your glory to those around me. [Grace and Glory by Louie Giglio] COMMENTARY Look to Christ, behold the attractive loveliness of His character, and by beholding you will become changed into His likeness... Sin hides from our view that matchless charms of Jesus; prejudice, selfishness, self-righteousness, and passion blind our eyes, so that we do not discern the Saviour. Oh, if we would by faith draw nigh to God, He would reveal to us His glory, which is His character... Those who behold the Saviour are changed from glory to greater glory. When men will consent to submit to Christ's will, to be partakers of the divine nature, their crooked, human peculiarities will disappear... It is not by looking away from Him that we imitate the life of Jesus, but by talking of Him, by dwelling upon His perfections, by seeking to refine the taste and elevate the character, by trying--through faith and love, and by earnest, persevering effort--to approach the perfect Pattern. By having a knowledge of Christ--His words, His habits, and His lessons of instruction--we borrow the virtues of the character we have so closely studied, and become imbued with the spirit we have so much admired. Jesus becomes to us "the chiefest among ten thousand," the One "altogether lovely" 6BC1097-1099 Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ... So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience. AA560-561 Looking unto Jesus we obtain brighter and more distinct views of God, and by beholding we become changed. . . Growing into His likeness, we enlarge our capacity for knowing God. More and more we enter into fellowship with the heavenly world, and we have continually increasing power to receive the riches of the knowledge and wisdom of eternity. COL355 Transformation of character. This is the sure result of union with Jesus. When Christ abides in the heart, the whole nature is transformed. Christ's Spirit, His love, softens the heart, subdues the soul, and raises the thoughts and desires toward God and heaven... When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the source of strength and life. Hence it is Satan's constant effort to keep the attention diverted from the Saviour and thus prevent the union and communion of the soul with Christ. The pleasures of the world, life's cares and perplexities and sorrows, the faults of others, or your own faults and imperfections--to any or all of these he will seek to divert the mind ... Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him. Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears... When Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself by a tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the choice of man himself. Satan will constantly present allurements to induce us to break this tie--to choose to separate ourselves from Christ. Here is where we need to watch, to strive, to pray, that nothing may entice us to choose another master; for we are always free to do this. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and He will preserve us. Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. SC71-73 There are many who believe and profess to claim the Lord's promise; they talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies. We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit God works in His people "to will and to do of His good pleasure." Phil. 2:13. But many will not submit to this. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. DA671-672 LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 2 Corinthians 3:18 - More and More Like Jesus! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20241030-1329.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240225-0819.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230609-0854.html 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 - Shine Jesus Shine! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150909-1125.html Romans 1:16, 17 - Power of the Gospel. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200924-1151.html Proverbs 23:7 - What You Think - - You Are! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230930-0941.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |