You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
2 Corinthians 3:3
We are that letter written from Christ, by His Spirit, on the tablet of our heart. It’s a glorious letter! It is the proof of what He is doing in our lives and we are being transformed bit by bit. It has been a beautiful year, watching God do what only He could do in us to set us free from the bondage we are in. Has that been your experience? Have you sought God for change of heart and mind, the transformation that He promises us in 2 Corinthians 3:17,18?
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, free freedom). And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from (one degree of) glory to (even more) glory, which comes from the Lord, (who is) the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:17,18 (AMP)
That is a beautiful verse that promises us the power that we need to change, or being sanctified, little by little through His glory and for His glory! Actually it is the relief and help that we all so desperately need. You know, that situation that you always find yourself in and it causes you angst? You might describe it as the thing that you can’t get over?? Something that continually feels like you are being robbed or hurt by. Yes, that.
God wants you to give it to Him and come into the pain of it with Him. Invite Him in and don’t ignore it or think that it is too painful and that it will never change. There is a faith piece to this, of course. Verse 16 says in fact, “but whenever a person turns (in repentance and faith) to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” That is what is said right before verse 17 which again says, “now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”. Okay, so when we have things that are in the way and they hurt us and hinder us, we just need to turn in repentance and faith to the Spirit of God, and a veil is removed and we can be there in the midst of that time with the Lord – the Spirit of the Lord, and in that place there is liberty! The veil means that we can’t experience the Spirit with us and the power that He brings. Make sense? He is there, but we are veiled to Him. Veil removed and there is power through the Spirit and the freedom comes for us. God wants to relieve our hearts and our minds and show us the truth! In doing that, He brings healing that only He can. One degree of glory to even more glory!!
What’s the repentance piece from verse 16? Let’s ask God what we need to repent for? What’s our part in it? Is it a sin for us to carry things so long, and not allow God to be with us and for us? To not trust Him? Could there be other things that we need to ask Him to forgive us for? Maybe unforgiveness for someone that has hurt us or rejected us? Could there be some part that is ours? This is a good time to do this because on September 28 the Jewish people observe Yom Kippur, which is the time once a year that the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies, and repented and asked for forgiveness for the people. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year. It’s the day of atonement after the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. On this day, Jews ask God for forgiveness for their sins to secure their fate.
Praise Jesus! He is our answer and our forgiveness is in Him. That is the gospel! There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus! Romans 8:1. We can also look to our text again in 2 Corinthians 3 and see our answer – For if the ministry that brings condemnation (the old covenant, the law… aka Old Testament) has glory, how much more does glory overflow in the ministry that brings righteousness (the new covenant which declares believers free of guilt and sets them apart for God’s special purpose)! Indeed, what had glory (the Law), in this case no longer has glory because of the glory that surpasses it (the gospel).
The glory that surpasses it is Jesus and the plan He has for us to come right into His presence, His glory, and let Him take away what stands between us and bring each of us freedom! As he removes the veil, because He can and He wants to, He brings healing and shows us truthfully what we need to see. Him in the midst of our pain with us and for us. He has been with us all along and there is another dimension that will cause us to see the true picture of what happened to us and where He was. It’s time. It’s a “beautiful time” for healing and for the rest of the story. God with us changes our story. It looks different and it will end different.
- Will you look at the hurt or pain you are in and consider this?
- Ask God to be with you in the middle of your pain or hurt. Stop and breathe Him in and receive His presence with you.
- Seek God in confession and repentance for? Not trusting and ________? Stop and think about what it might be. Ask God to show you what stands between him and you.
- Ask Him to remove the veil and change you from glory to glory!
- Receive the healing and the truth that He has for you. The Spirit of the Lord will do it. Believe and receive what He has for you.
All the people saw him walking and praising God; and they recognized him as the very man who usually sat begging for coins at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement and were mystified at what had happened to him.”
Acts 3:9-10
