This post is a part of my series of once weekly devotionals called Faith for Thought. Bookmark the homepage for Faith for Thought here to return to it for the weekly update on Thursday!
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2 Corinthians 3:12-18
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone 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 freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Devotion
Every spring there is a dog agility competition in the park across the street from our house. My husband thinks it’s ridiculous — and I’m not even really a dog person — but for some reason I love walking over to watch! So when I saw them setting up for this contest last Thursday, I told my husband, “I found my plans for the weekend!”
As I watched the trainers lead their dogs through the obstacle course of tunnels and seesaws and jumps, it made me laugh how much the dogs really did look like their owners. I know people joke about that, but it really is true: A tiny owner led a little yorkie. A man with long, wispy brown hair led a collie. This year a woman who had dyed her ponytail purple had even dyed the tail of her dog purple!
When animals belong to us, we like to make them look like us! And when we belong to Christ, He likes to make us look like Him too.
Therefore, not only did God create humans in His own image, but the Bible tells us that we are being transformed to become more like Him.
When we think about becoming more like someone else, typically we think about what we can do to be like someone else. How can I act or look like another person? In this case, how can we become more like Christ?
But the Bible tells us that it’s not by our own doing. When we turn to the Lord, the Bible says that we will be transformed into His image — “which comes from the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). As Christians, we cannot will ourselves to become more like Christ by striving to be more and more perfect. Instead, the Holy Spirit is the one who changes us.
In general, we often forget about the Holy Spirit working in us. God is our Creator; Jesus is our Savior. But where does the Holy Spirit come in? The Holy Spirit lives and works in us. Before Jesus left the world, He promised us this Spirit to work within us: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)
When we commit to the Lord, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we can become more like His son, Jesus.
Action Steps
Instead of trying to figure out what you can do to be more like Jesus today, pray a prayer of thanksgiving that you have the Holy Spirit to help change you from the inside out.
