Sunday, September 10, 2023

The Transfiguration Process By Sharon Musgrove #Devotional #SundayThoughts

 


“All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:18 CEB

 

 Do you see your transformation?

 

As Christians, it can be difficult to discern change happening within us.  Daily and weekly routines can become mindless activities, and time passes without giving thought to what God is desiring to do within us.  We often don’t think about our own internal transfiguration as much as wanting the external world to be changed.

 

Transfiguration is a word we tend to compartmentalize to a single event that occurred with Jesus when he met with Moses and Elijah on a mountain while praying.

 

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.   And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.”  Matthew 17:1-3 ESV (emphasis mine)

 

We think of Christ’s glowing-white face as being the big deal.  We do not see ourselves shine when we look in the mirror and think nothing is different about us.

 

But the Greek word metamorphoo, used to recount this incident in Matthew 17 and Mark 9, is the exact word used in 2 Corinthians 3:18 describing our own spiritual metamorphosis.   

 

The prefix meta means “amid, with, among.”  While morphoo means “to form.”  Put together this word metamorphoo embodies the definition “transformed after being with.” (Cited from HELPS Word-studies.).

 

With God, a formless chaos of darkness transfigures into a spectacular universe and life supporting Earth.

 

With Jesus, water transfigures into the finest wine.

 

What happens to people when we unite with Christ?  We too begin the transfiguration process of becoming true to the reality of our image-bearing design.  We begin to speak and act in ways that project loving natures.  We forgive.  We serve.  We delight in others rather than competing with them.

 

But all of that requires that we remain in Christ.  We do not conform to this world.  We choose to trust in God rather than be wishy washy.  Once we put on Christ, we don’t put Him off, but double down in commitment to the process.

 

Think of one area of your life that has already permanently changed because of Christ.  See how you are different because of it?  See your shine? In Him the transfiguration process really is underway! 


 

Author Bio:

 



Sharon has been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and devotionals since 2007.    

 

She has had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served women in the homeless community.

 

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young women.

 

Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

 

Sharon and her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown children. 

 

Currently, Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry. 

 

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Connect with Sharon:

Website: Sharonmusgrove.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/

 



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