November 29th~Unveiled

2 Corinthians 2:5-6:13

We covered several chapters of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. In them he explained the superiority of the New Covenant in Christ over the Old Covenant and the law of Moses. “This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life” (3:6). Because of this new life, this new hope in Christ, Paul explained that he found motivation to carry on, despite his many hardships. He viewed himself as Christ’s ambassador, reconciling others to God (5:20). In many ways, we too are His ambassadors, charged with the very same mission.

Numerous times, while describing the advantage of the New Covenant over the Old, Paul referred to the veil of Moses. “The old system,” he wrote, “began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face... He put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away...” (3:7, 13). Paul used that veil as a symbol of the hardness of the people’s hearts and the darkness of their minds. “Even today... their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand” (3:15).

Next, Paul contrasts what happens at the point of salvation. “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away” (3:16). The Spirit of the Lord releases us from the curse of the law, the penalty of the Old Covenant, and opens our eyes to its fulfillment in Christ. Now, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, He gives freedom” (3:17). The veil is gone!

Paul continued, “All of us (Christians) have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more” (3:18). The New American Standard translation casts this verse in a better light. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Simply put, because the Spirit of God has “lifted the veil” from our faces and opened our eyes to see that all of Scripture points to Christ, we can behold His glory; and, as we behold His glory or preoccupy ourselves with Him, His teaching, His work, His ministry, His nature, then we are transformed, with the help of the Spirit, into His image, a little more each day.

Daily Reflection

Describe what it looks like to preoccupy yourself with Christ. What would that require of you?

As Moses spent time in the presence of God, his face reflected God’s glory. In a way, you do the same today. You are a mirror that reflects the glory of God to others? Explain how.

Can you see the progressive work of God in changing you into the image of Christ? How so?

BiAY.org | Day 333 — 32 Days to Go