Reflecting the Glory of the Lord
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says, “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.”
It was the Rabbi’s job to explain the language of the Scripture to his audience. This passage is an explanation of the language found in Exodus 34:33-35. It wasn’t God the Father who had removed the veil from the hearts of believers but Jesus. The Lord has freed us from our blindness.
This passage helps us answer the question: Why is the New Covenant or the New Testament better than the Old Testament? The answer is simple: it is a ministry of freedom and grace.
Jesus Christ’s death on the cross bought freedom for anyone who believes (1 Corinthians 6:20). He frees us from sin and the condemnation that results from trying to obey the law (Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 3:21-24). He frees us from the fear of death, the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:17-18). Jesus even frees us from the evil powers (Galatians 1:4). This passage addresses our ignorance of God’s plan of salvation. Jesus Christ frees believers from the same mental and theological veil that covered many Jews (3:14).
When we have put our trust in Jesus Christ to save us, He removes the burden of the performance trap to please Him. The Holy Spirit takes away our ignorance, giving us a clear understanding of the Scriptures. By trusting Jesus, we know that we are loved, accepted, forgiven, and freed by grace to live for Him.
Moses took off his veil when he went into the Lord’s presence, but we who are Christians can now behold God’s glory without any covering. Unlike the Jews, who had to rely on priests to mediate between them and God, believers, through Jesus Christ’s saving grace on the cross, have direct access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18) 24X7.
The Greek word translated as “mirrors” is the idea that we function as a mirror. We can reflect the glory of the Lord. Only Moses had access to the Lord’s presence and thus could reflect his glory. But now, all believers can be like Moses. Therefore, when Christians, who are given 100% access to the Father through Christ’s work, look at God’s glory, we will reflect His holy character in their lives. As a result of this personal encounter with God, we are forever changed.
Are you changed? Have you been transformed?
We are blessed to have a law that has proclaimed a Day of Prayer for our nation each year since 1952! The Church is called to prayer, care, share lifestyle. First and foremost, people need to hear the message and experience the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. The 2021 National Day of Prayer theme prays: LORD pour out Your LOVE, LIFE, and LIBERTY.
Once again praying and proclaiming a promise of God in our theme verse:
2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Join the National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 5:00 pm (pacific time)
https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2021_national_observance
Praying together,
Pastor Steve