2 Corinthians 3 (6)

Pray Psalm 17.15.
As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Sing Psalm 17.15.
(Park Street: All You That Fear Jehovah’s Name)
But as for me, LORD, save and bless! Let me behold Your righteousness.
Your face in glory I would see, and thus forever blessèd be,
and thus forever blessèd be.

Read 2 Corinthians 3.1-18; meditate on verses 15-18.

Prepare
1. What do we discern as we read the Word (Law) of God?

2. What does the Spirit do with that?

Meditation
What words would you use to describe the glory of God? Majestic? Immense and expansive? Beautiful beyond words? All-embracing, all-sustaining, all-wonderful? Weighty and fearful? Doubtless, these and many more. We look to Jesus as He sojourned among us, loving, teaching, healing, restoring, and we see the glory of God. We see Him suffering on the cross, focused on the joy that was set down before Him. We see Him bursting to life, ascending to the Father, taking His seat to rule the cosmos, making all things new. And when we see Jesus, we see all the glory of God we can bear for now.

The glory of Jesus runs through the whole of God’s Word. He is there in every book, chapter, and story, gazing out at us from between the lines of Scripture and beckoning us to enter His Presence and glory. We see Jesus in the mirror of Scripture, or we do not see deeply enough. When we glimpse His glory in the Words of Scripture, He locks onto us and draws us to Himself. As He does, the Spirit takes the glory we have discerned and works it throughout our soul and from there, into our life. The glory we contemplate becomes the glory we live as we are transformed from glory to glory into the image of Jesus Christ.

This is the normal Christian life—normal, in that this is the pattern or norm God has established for us and that He is at work within us to accomplish (Phil. 2.13). One day we will see Jesus face to face, and then we will be like Him. For now, we seek the glory of the Lord in the face of Jesus Christ throughout the Word of God (2 Cor. 4.6). As we discern His glory we linger there, gazing upon His beauty (Ps. 27.4) and yielding to His Spirit as He convicts us of sin, points the way into greater righteousness, and empowers us for righteous judgment according to the Word of God (Jn. 16.8-11). This, I say, is normal. It is also, we will agree, a mystery, an unfathomable privilege, and the greatest adventure anyone can know.

Is the glory-to-glory life normal for you?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
The Christian life is a mystery, unsolvable by the human mind, beginning with the perplexing case of God demonstrating His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, He sent His Son Jesus to die for us (Rom. 5.8). A mystery never to be understood, but one to be eternally grateful for and embraced.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord…” (2 Cor. 3.18).

The world’s greatest detective, Hercule Poirot, solved one of his mysteries when he realized he was looking at the problem face on, when in fact, the mystery could only be understood, when looked at in a mirror, backwards, as it were.

That is perhaps what Paul was alluding to here: we can behold the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, not fully clear, not completely understood, only comprehending what we can see with our human eyes and heart. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13.12: “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

“From glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3.18). Glory obscured to glory clear, evident, certain, obvious, apparent, irrefutable, unmistakable, and conclusive. Here and now glory becoming there and then glory.

“Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory” (Ps. 24.8-10).

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus”! (Jn. 12.21)
And we try to comprehend and “know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn. 3.2).

Glory to Glory. Hallelujah.

For reflection
1. When are you most aware of seeing the glory of Jesus in the Word of God?

2. How do you experience the glory of Jesus as the Spirit works it into your soul and out through your life?

3. What should be our proper response to the Lord as we move from glory to glory day by day?

The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is happy, for the heart is set at liberty to run the ways of God’s commandments. They have light, and with open face they behold the glory of the Lord. Christians should prize and improve these privileges. We should not rest contented without knowing the transforming power of the gospel, by the working of the Spirit, bringing us to seek to be like the temper and tendency of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and into union with Him. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 3.12-18

Pray Psalm 17.4-9.
Pray that God will guard your path and uphold your steps today so you may glorify Him in all you do.

Sing Psalm 17.4-9.
(Park Street: All You That Fear Jehovah’s Name)
As for the deeds of sinful men, I will not walk those paths again.
My feet hold firm from first to last: Help me to walk Your righteous path,
help me to walk Your righteous path!

When I have called, You answered me, LORD; hear now my fervent, seeking word!
Let kindness flow by Your command. Keep and preserve me by Your Right Hand,
keep and preserve me by Your Right Hand.

Treasure me in Your holy eye; shelter me from a troubling sky.
Around me all my enemies eagerly would despoil me,
eagerly would despoil me.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help you see both the greatness and the smallness of God’s salvation. Such a Great Salvation and Small Stuff will show you how to think small, live big, and know the salvation and glory of God in all your daily life. You can learn more about these books and order your copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.