“Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory...
“When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
The Shekinah glory was a constant for Israel in the wilderness and the tent of meeting, yet it did not ever appear exactly the same one day to the next. Always present, ever changing. And once the Prince of glory came and died and was raised, He ushered in a new glory that can be ours in salvation. (Exodus 40:34-38; Isaiah 4:5-6)
As the earth spins and years come and pass, the nothing new under the sun of every day is never the same. Physically and practically life is dynamic, not static, and spiritually in the unseen realm the Lord is constantly changing us. Sometimes we resist that changing, preferring how I am and how things are, thank you. But the soul set on Christ will welcome and rejoice in God’s transforming work from the inside out, and will see His glory in it. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Where is the Lord’s Spirit prompting transformation, and what are we doing about it? Are we stuck in neutral, stagnant or complacent, or moving forward with the Lord? Is there any inward or outward evidence of our being changed from glory to glory? What would our co-workers and loved ones say?
What aspects of our character are becoming more pleasing, more reflective of Jesus? What changes in desire, refinements of behavior, or softening of hard edges and speech have taken place? What impulses and reactions and habitual practices need His work, and how willing are we to admit and submit to it? Where can we yield today to be made more like Jesus, and so portray and exude our Maker’s glory?
“Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n to earth come down,
fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
all Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with Thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Finish then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.” ~Charles Wesley (1747)
Lord, sweep me up in Your bundle of vibrant, dynamic life, changing me to be more like You every day so I reflect Your glory. (1 Samuel 25:29)
As the rain and snow 