Unveiled Faces

"But 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."
2 Corinthians 3:18

     Last night as we lay in bed and watched the moon rise through the trees, my daughter, who is six, asked if it was the sun. I explained the moon's reflection of the sun, which had just shortly set. We talked about how the moon doesn't actually generate any of its own light, but can shine so brightly so as to light up the darkness of the night with the very reflection of a sun that can't even be seen.

     As I thought about that, I thought again how much we as Christians are just that. We don't create any of our own light. We can only reflect our Savior Jesus and His truth, love, beauty and mercy to the world around us. And how desperately the darkness of our world, with hate, violence, evil and lies needs to see that!

     But in order to reflect Him accurately, we need repentance. Daily repentance. It's a word that makes people angry sometimes. But the Greek word, "metanoia" just means "repentance, a change of mind, change in the inner man." To, after thinking about what we know of God, change our mind to agree with what He says harms His most valuable creation--us. What should anger us about that?

     I know that I often find that I am convicted when I speak harshly to my kids, and realize that I've just hurt them in my selfishness or pride. So I repent. I say, "you're right, Father, that was wrong. Please help me not to do that again," and I ask their forgiveness too.

    And then I practice doing what is right. Because I love God, and because I love you all. I don't want to cause harm. I want to build and not tear people down.

​"Little children, let no one deceive you.
Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous."
​1 John 3:7

     But in my practicing I mess up. My salvation and righteousness is really based on Jesus' blood when He took my punishment for me, but because I love Him and love the ones He loves, I practice being like Him.

       That's the beauty of the gospel!

     The more we practice, the more we reflect Him accurately. The more we spend time with Him and in reading the Bible, the more we get to know what He is really like!

     Just like my kids practice being like Jeff and I and have a ways to go to maturity, so do I. But I love my heavenly Father! So it is a joy to become like Him.

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"I will be satisfied when I awake in your likeness"
Ps. 17:15