Transformed by the Spirit

https://odb.org/2025/06/16/lookalike

2 Corinthians 3:12–18 (NIV): 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 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.

Paul asserted that Moses put a veil over his face after he met God to prevent the Israelites from seeing that the glory was temporal, although Moses said that it was to protect the Israelites from God’s holiness pointing to its permanence. Be that as it may, the point Paul is making in 2 Corinthians 3 is that the radiance of our countenance need not be hidden. We don’t need a veil. Jesus has lifted it. So, we may read the law of Moses without a veil. We have the victory and freedom in Christ. Our faces are unveiled even as we are transformed into Christ’s image by the ever increasing glory of Christ, who is the Spirit.

But for us as individuals and ordinary believers in Christ, we should know that we are also transformed by the Spirit day by day. As we pray and do our quiet time each day, as we commune with Christ, He transforms us. In the process, we have a certain radiance in our countenance.

Of course, like the potter and the clay, we must submit to His loving hands as He shapes our character and personality. If we resist, the transformation will still come over time. It will just take longer. We can not help but be changed in the presence of God as the song says, “for I am changed, in the presence of the Holy God.” Why? Because we are made in the image of God and have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Perhaps we are not 100% changed, but changed we would have!

It’s a natural consequence of our spiritual journey of faith. In the animal world, we will see that a dog raised by wolves will become like wolves, and the dog will howl instead of bark. Likewise, as Christ raises and shapes us, we will slowly be transformed into His image.

The world will see the changes in us. Our loved ones and family will see that we are no longer our old grumpy and moody and stingy self. We are now joyous and cheerful, generous and gracious. We are aware that every day that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ and Christ, our Lord is on a mission to change and transform us. How can we not be changed in the presence of the Holy One of Israel?

Have a glorious and fruitful week this coming week! May our Father in heaven bless the work of our hands and grant us wisdom, discernment, and victory in all that we do! Amen!