2 Corinthians 3:18

New Living Translation (NLT)

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.

For Meditation

I remember growing up in my hometown. Money didn’t come by very easily for me. Occasionally I would find and dig out an old, rusty, weather-stained, and discolored coin from the ground and do everything to bring it alive. Nothing about my find looked like a coin except its shape. Its glory had faded and needed restoration. So, I would wet the ground, put the coin in it, cover it with sand, and then stamp my heel on it to begin my crude process of polishing it. The painful process continued until the entire surface of the coin was “sandblasted” that way. The final wash revealed the face of the personality embossed on one side, and the national crest that authenticated the coin, on the other. Its value was also revealed as well as every detail from the day it was minted. It glimmered in the sun and I could proudly use it for any transaction I wanted. In a way, that is the process Paul was describing about believers in 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Every new believer is like that old coin dug out of the ground by our Savior. He made us in His own image, but sin has stained, rusted, and discolored us. He searches for us with all His heart and digs us out of this muddy world. Spiritually, He makes us into a new creation in Himself (5:17). He begins His transforming work in us to reveal His glory – His image and likeness. The veil that blinded us is lifted. We can now see Him in His word. The Holy Spirit transforms us by the renewing of our minds through the word (Rm. 12:1-2). We reflect His glory more and more as He blasts off every stain of sin and bad behavior in us (2 Cor. 3:18).

1. But how well do we take this painful process of transforming us into His image with ever -increasing glory?
2. Do you know that the more you allow Him to “sandblast” the stain off of you, the more He reveals His glory in you?
3. Are you aware that your cooperation with the Holy Spirit in this transformation process, allows you to better see the glory of the Lord Jesus?
4. Do you present yourself daily to Him as a burnt offering – a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him (Rm. 12:1)?
5. Are you allowing Him to transform you into His image by the renewal of your mind (2)?

I pray you do, and that you do not jump off the altar of sacrifice when the Holy Spirit turns His refining fire up.

Remember that the eternal glory to be revealed in you is worth every pain and suffering you may suffer now (2 Cor. 4:17). And He will not stop until He sees His glorious face in you.

Shalom