“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Just when I think God couldn’t make it any better, here He comes again! Hallelujah to His Holy Name!
God’s blessing and favor are SO AMAZING! If you woke up in a safe, dry place this morning – home, apartment, condo, wherever – praise God! If you woke up (in the words of the old Negro song) in your right mind – praise God! If you even had a piece of toast or donut and something clean to drink to start you morning – praise God! If you woke up and had clothes to wear – praise God! If you could see when you woke up this morning, if you could hear the songs of the birds or the city traffic this morning – praise God! These are the basics, these are the most elemental things God has promised us. Remember when He said if we seek Him first and His righteousness all these things (food, shelter, clothing) would be provided to us?
Let’s take it up a notch. If you woke up this morning knowing God loves you – praise Him. Even if you can’t see your way clear from whatever you’re facing right now, but you know God has promised to be with you – praise Him! Even if you have to take medicine because of some medical condition, but at least you have it to take – praise Him! Even if you wake up in someplace nobody knows you, but you remember God sees you and is with you no matter where – praise Him! Even if you are the pastor of a church or a worship leader – praise Him!
Paul tells us in this verse that we all with anakalypto – analytical view, uncovered, exposed – faces before God view His glory (view as in to study and seek to become like) are being changed into THAT SAME IMAGE – from good to gooder (haha). No matter how blessed you are, no matter how handsome or beautiful you are, if you seek Him and want to become more and more like Him, you are becoming a better and better reflector of His glory in this world. As we look to Him and see Him both through the light of scripture and through our daily walk with Him, it is like your bathroom mirror. You know – the one you look into every morning as you do your hair, makeup, etc and brush your teeth. It’s all spotted up from toothpaste splatter, fingerprints, etc. Your vision is still ok but muddled and marred by the smudges and splatter marks on the mirror. But when you clean that mirror you can see SO MUCH BETTER. You then get a clearer, truer vision of what is there. So it is with God. Each time we behold Him in all His glory, He wipes away a smudge in our spirits or the dirty fingerprints the world has left upon us. As He cleanses us from all unrighteousness (all dirt and smudges), we reflect His image all the more clearly and fully.
This morning I awoke with the heaviest sense of gratitude to God! I am MOST BLESSED. It burdens me to speak with fellow Christians – brothers and sisters – who are down all the time. There is always something wrong in their lives, there is always a struggle going on, and they are always talking about the bad things. Brothers and sisters, we ALL have those things going on in our lives. Maybe not the same things, but something similar. Remember where you read that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”? The word for temptation in this verse doesn’t mean necessarily your temptation to look at porn or whatever. It means trial or squeezing. You are not suffering anything special. We all have those places that are tight – whether it is health-related, family or relationship-related, or financial. And, don’t get me wrong – it is natural to “vent” or to tell someone about your struggles. In face, we are told to share our burdens with one another. Not to bring them down, but to seek advice, counsel, or to bring someone alongside to help carry the mental and spiritual burden with you.
Today my friend I encourage you to take your burden to the LORD and leave it there. If you have close brothers and sisters in the LORD who can stand alongside you – praise Him! If you are one who has been called alongside someone else – praise Him! If you know the joy of having Jesus yoked alongside you in this life – praise Him!
There are SO MANY old hymns we used to sing in the church that I believe we need to bring back. The newer songs and choruses are good, but some of the older songs really encourage us in our Christian journeys. For example, The Longer I Serve Him (The Sweeter He Grows). Look at these lyrics by my brother Bill Gaither:
Since I started for the Kingdom,
Since my life He controls,
Since I gave my heart to Jesus,
The longer I serve Him,
The sweeter He grows.
CHORUS:
The longer serve Him, the sweeter He grows,
The more that I love Him, more love He bestows;
Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows,
The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.
Ev'ry need He is supplying,
Plenteous grace He bestows;
Ev'ry day my way gets brighter,
The longer I serve Him,
The sweeter He grows.
Dear friend, I pray this is the song of your heart today. Praise God for every little thing you have going well in your life. Even the tiniest thing if that’s what it takes to get you started. Before long your heart will be overflowing with thanksgiving and love for the Father. Have an awesome day in Jesus!
Be blessed.
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