Being Transformed into Jesus' Image by the Spirit (1-9-2013)

January 9, 2013 - 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

3:16		但 他 們 的 心 幾 時 歸 向 主 、 帕 子 就 幾 時 除 去 了 。
3:17		主 就 是 那 靈 、 主 的 靈 在 那 裡 、 那 裡 就 得 以 自 由 。
3:18		我 們 眾 人 既 然 敞 著 臉 、 得 以 看 見 主 的 榮 光 、 好 像 從 鏡 子 裡 返 照 、 就 變 成 主 的 形 狀 、 榮 上 加 榮 、 如 同 從 主 的 靈 變 成 的 。

¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Believers can only undergo life transformation when we turn to the Lord and the Spirit that the veil obstructing between us and the Lord can be removed. The veil to Old Testament Israelites refers to their only self-reliance on the law instead of on the Lord who gives the law. The veil to present believers can refer to everything like our self-reliance, hidden sins, in-born temperament, worldly temptations, etc. that can hinder our growth to be Christ-like. Believers on the one hand shall determine to love God more than anything else and to get rid of these obstructions, but on the other hand shall tun back to the Lord in faith as the Spirit is the only Lord who can give us freedom and initiate a life transformation in our life. Paul exhorts believers to contemplate the Lord's glory with unveiled faces. Turning to the Lord and contemplating His glory through His Spirit is the way to experience real life transformation not by our strength but by the Spirit's power.

My Spirit, help me to turn to the Lord as I desire to be like Jesus. Contemplating his glory, beauty, love, compassion, mercy, righteousness, obedience to Father God, gentleness, perseverance, integrity, holiness....... by the Spirit is the way for me to be transformed in his image - to be like Jesus - day by day. Just recall a hymn - Turn my eyes to Jesus:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

The temptations of world will become weaker and weaker and more importantly we will become more and more Christ-like.