Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 1, 2022
Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
12 So, since we have such hope, we act with great confidence. 13 We aren’t like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites couldn’t watch the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds were closed. Right up to the present day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. The veil is not removed because it is taken away by Christ. 15 Even today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But whenever someone turns back to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. 18 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.
Good Morning, We are being transformed into the image of Christ!
Think of those times when you are most at peace. It might be a special place or a special time of day. Maybe it comes when you are listening to music or reading. For me, it is during my morning time outside as I take in all of God’s majesty around me. I purposefully open my heart and mind to Christ during my morning walk.
As I hear the birds and see the beautiful plants, I feel immersed in peace. How do we allow this peace to follow us for more than those special moments? It is so easy to lose that focus when we are interacting with others. Whether we’re on the job or at home, things happen that aggravate us, and just like that our peace is gone.
When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit enters us and begins our blessed transformation into the beings God sees in us. We are called to be the face of Christ for the world. Now admittedly, this is a slow process, yet we are slowly being shaped into this new image.
Remember the beautiful imagery of Isaiah when we read that God is the potter and we are the clay. We are being transformed into the image of Christ. Along the way, we face struggles that can cause bumps or cracks in our vessel, but our potter molds and mends us. In the beginning, we have many rough edges and creases, but over time the Holy Spirit smoothes and soothes us from the inside out.
When others look at us, who do they see? They see works in progress being molded into perfection to reflect Christ in everything we do. At the heart of our transformation is God’s love, grace, mercy, and peace. Do not be troubled, Christ will mend and mold our brokenness. Accept the peace of Christ offered to you.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We give ourselves to You. Mold us to Your will. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: When my heart is at peace, I can reflect God’s great love.
Give yourself freely to God! Pastor Liz
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