Looking into the Son

From my chair in our living room where I usually sit to read, journal, pray (or blog!) I noticed one of our plants on the bookshelf ledge:

 

In the few weeks that it's been there, it has changed. 

Slowly, the leaves have turned a little bit to the side, the stems getting taller, almost as if reaching for the window. Why is that? Because plants are attracted to the light. And they always grow in the direction of the sun.

Today I'm headed off to a week-long seminar on the theme of intimacy with God. Deepening our friendship with Jesus, learning to walk in the Spirit, developing a life of prayer. We want to grow in the direction of the Son.

Do you realize that Moses, that great but timid, imperfect, and humble leader of God's people the Israelites, was able to speak to God face to face? He regularly encountered the Living, Great "I Am." He was friends with the Creator of the Universe; he walked in glory. What could be better than that?

His encounters with God left him physically changed - so much so that his face brightened, and he had to put a veil over it. I always thought the veil was to protect the Israelites, but actually we read something different in 2 Corinthians 3:13:

"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."

Moses had to cover his face so the people couldn't see the magnificent glory departing. As amazing as his encounters were, they were temporary. He heard God's voice and passed on the Lord's commands to the people and walked with Yahweh, but even that glory was fading. 

But there's GOOD news in v. 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."

Because Christ came to earth, died and rose again and sent the Holy Spirit to us, we can now encounter Him, live in relationship with Him, and walk with him with unveiled faces! Why? Because we don't have to be afraid that the glory will fade. Ever-increasing glory! "From strength to strength" we are promised (Psalm 84:7).

Does that mean it will always be easy? No. Is a relationship with God only mountain-top experiences? No. But we can be sure that whatever we walk through will, in the end, give us MORE strength, and we'll encounter MORE of God's glory through it. 

  

Friends, I pray that this week, you will look into the Son. I pray that you will grow in the direction of the Light of the World and encounter Christ's glory in such a tangible way that your face and life would reflect Him. Would you pray the same for me?