OUR : GETTING BEYOND OURSELVES

[cimi]

April 8
Tuesday


GETTING
BEYOND
OURSELVES

READ:
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
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We all,...beholding
as in a mirror the
glory of the Lord, are
being transformed.
__2 Corinthians 3:18
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I have one of those friends who seems to be better than I am at just about everything. He is smarter; he thinks more deeply; and he knows where to find better books to read. He is even a better golfer. Spending time with him challenges me to become a better, more thoughtful person. His standard of excellence spurs me on to greater things.

That highlights a spiritual principle: It's a crucial for us to spend time in God's Word so we can connect with the person of Christ. Reading about the impact of Jesus' unconditional love for us compels me to love without demand. His mercy and His free distribution of grace to the most undeserving make me ashamed of my tendency to withhold forgiveness and seek revenge.

I find myself becoming a more thankful person when I realize that, despite my shameful falleness, the Lord has clothed me in the beauty of His perfect righteousness. His amazing ways and unsurpassed wisdom motivate and transform me. It's hard to be content with my life as it is when in His presence I am drawn to become more like Him.

The apostle Paul calls us to the joy of beholding Christ. As we do so, we are "being transformed into the same image from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:18). __Joe Stowell

```````````````````Lord, help us to come into our presence with eyes``````````````````````
`````````````````and hearts wide open to all that You are and want us`````````````````````
`````````````````to become. Thank you for revealing Yourself to us and```````````````````
``````````````````for the joy of basking in the greatness of Your glory.````````````````````
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Stay close to God and you will never be the same.

************************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 3:7-18***************************

7 But if the ministry of
death, written and engraved
on stones, was glorious, so
that the children of Israel
could not look steadily at the
face of Moses because of the
glory of his countenance,
which glory was passing
away, 8 how will the ministry
of the Spirit not be more
glorious? 9 For if the ministry
of condemnation had glory,
the ministry of righteousness
exceeds much more in glory.

10 For even what was made
glorious had no glory in this
respect, because of the glory
that excels. 11 For if what is
passing away was glorious,
what remains is much more
glorious.

12 Therefore, since we have
such hope, we use great
boldness of speech__

13 unlike Moses, who put a
veil over his face so that the
children of Israel could not
look steadily at the end of
what was passing.

14 But their minds were
blinded. For until this day the
same veil remains unlifted in
the reading of the Old
Testament, becasue the veil is
taken away in Christ. 15 But
even to this day, when Moses
is read, a veil lies on their
heart. 16 Nevertheless when
one turns to the Lord, the veil
is taken away. 17 Now the
Lord is the Spirit; and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is leberty. 18 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Paul underscores the superiority of the new covenant over the old
covenant (2 Cor. 3:7-11) by referring back to Exodus 34:29-35.
Moses' face so radiated with God's glory after having commanded with
God that the Israelites were afraid to come near Moses (Ex. 34:8).
Paul says the ministry of the Spirit is much more glorious (2 Cor. 3:8).