Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Gradual but All Round Transformation

UV 2123/10000 Gradual but All Round Transformation
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 v 18

Moses had to veil his face to hide the radiance that came from having spent time in the shekinah glory of the presence of God. But today every believer in Jesus and the gospel of hope can spend time in the presence of the Lord with his face unveiled. As we spend time in His presence we are changed from within our inmost being a little by little or degree by degree. In proportion to the time we spend in prayer, worship, fellowship, study and meditation of the Word, application of what the Spirit has taught us from the Word and faithful witness to the things the Lord has done in our lives, the process is speeded up. The light of the Lord has to shine in our lives. The blinkers on our vision have to fall away. We need to see the image of the Lord constantly and as we see the image of Christ, we are being moulded by the Spirit to conform to that image of peace, love, grace, mercy, strength, gentleness and wisdom.

Our transformation then does not happen overnight but it is a lifelong process. All that binds us and blinds us has to be removed. We need to take a good look in our spiritual mirror – the Word and seeing what is missing in our lives, take steps to attain that and seeing that which should not be part of our lives, we need to get rid of it. We no longer live to pander to the cravings and desires of our flesh but to feed the spirit and live the spiritual but holistic life. To be spiritual does not mean that we live a cloistered life cut off from others. It does not mean that we wear any masks or veils but we live an open life. We are open to correction and change by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our transformation though gradual is comprehensive , deep and lasting. Sometimes, the Lord takes us through painful experiences before we develop the will and momentum to change in a particular area of our lives. We increasingly de-weed in the flesh and sow in the spirit. As we sow in the spirit, we will also reap or harness many spiritual benefits.
Transformation implies that Jesus should increase in our lives and we should decrease. This further means that we need to give up our pride and egos. As we meditate and emulate the surpassing love of Christ, we grow in our spiritual nature and stature. Our reliance on our own opinions needs to give way to the teachings of Jesus. Our sensitivity to the move of the Holy Spirit will increase and we will find ourselves listening more intently to the whisper and promptings of the spirit. Our hamartia or sinful nature or shortcomings due to the lustful drives of our flesh will be increasingly replaced by the desire to imitate the greatness of Jesus.

Prateep V Philip

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