CHANGE THROUGH THE WORD PART 2: SEEING HIS PERFECTION

Wednesday 19 March

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 by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 (NKJV)

It seemed appropriate to expound more on this subject of ‘change through the Word’ so we will continue on this topic. If you missed yesterday’s devotion then it may help you to read that first, before proceeding further.

Photographic filters are usually applications that you use in social media to superimpose over an image designed to present you in the best light possible. Interestingly, Jesus is the filter through which the Father sees everyone through the lens of Christ’s righteousness and moreover it is the way He presents us before the Father.

‘In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:’ Colossians 1:22

Holy means ‘a saint’, unblameable means ‘faultless,’ and unreprovable means ‘unaccused’. In His sight, tells us how the Father sees us through Jesus. Living out of this revelation alone is life changing!

Hold that thought and let’s come back to the mirror. Apostle Paul tells us to ‘behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord’. Let’s think about this for a moment. When you look into a normal mirror, the longer and harder you look, the more you begin to notice all the imperfections.

It’s opposite with the mirror of the Word. The more you look intently into it, the more perfection you see in it. To behold is not a have quick look or a fleeting glance. Picture a woman putting on her makeup and the intentionally, focused time that she takes in front of the mirror.

Apostle Paul also says that you behold or see ‘the glory of the Lord in the ‘Word mirror’. But hang on. Don’t you only see yourself in there? Then if what you are seeing is the glory of the Lord, it can only mean one thing: YOU are the glory of the Lord!

James 1:25 is appears to be talking about the same mirror as 2 Corinthians 3:18. He talks about looking and continuing to look into the Word of God. He calls it the ‘perfect law of liberty’. This means Apostle James was referring to the perfection of Christ not merely the scriptures. Read James 1:22-24 to get the full context.

James 1:25 tells us not to be a ‘forgetful hearer but a doer of the work’. Joshua 1:8 says that ‘you may observe to do according to all that is written therein’… Two things when it comes to the Word. We hear to do and we observe to do. How do we hear and see to do? Through the accurate teaching of the scriptures.

To do means to go and act out the image that you saw in the mirror of the Word. A doer of the work of grace, which is the image of the new creation in Christ. Recreated in His image and likeness.

If what you are hearing and seeing is inaccurate, your doing will be the same. This is why we must painstakingly study to show ourselves approved unto God. His approval is the only one that matters. As you are growing in Christ, always see yourself through the filter of His grace because that’s how God sees you; holy, unblameable and unreprovable in His sight.

APPLICATION

Read and study 2 Corinthians 3:13-18 and James 1:22-25 to gain greater insight into what these scriptures are saying.