“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.
~*~
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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