2 Corinthians 3 : 13-18 (NRSV)
... not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but 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 all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Daily Byte
After forty days on the mountain with God, Moses rejoined the people, but they were afraid to look at him because his face was radiant with God’s glory. In those days they believed that if they looked on God’s glory they would die because sinful people cannot bear the holiness of God. But, now, for us everything has changed. Jesus has made it possible for us to enjoy intimacy with God, and has also made it possible for us to reflect God’s grace and mercy through our lives and relationships. We need no veil. We don’t need to hide from God’s presence, and we don’t need to hide the character of God that is beginning to be revealed through us. As we worship, we are invited to become people who encounter God, who “see” God face to face, and to be people who carry the radiance of God with us into the world.
Who have you known that has reflected God’s glory and grace to you? What was it about them that touched you? How have you experienced being changed by worship to be a little more like Jesus? Has this change been noticed by anyone else? What can you do this week to allow God’s presence to be seen through you?
Pray As You Go
You are God and I am me;
and yet you welcome me into your presence, into your heart;
You are God and I am me;
and yet you fill me with your Spirit, with your glory;
O Glorious God,
May my worship keep drawing me closer to you,
and may my worship change me,
so that everyone I meet in whatever time or place,
may know your awesome goodness,
through the ordinary person that I am.
Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission.
To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com
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