Radiant in the face of crisis
This fresh set of Daily Devotions is being provided for our LCA/NZ family, friends and visitors to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we face unsettling times. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the LCA/NZ’s Church@Home resources to encourage us and build trust in our Heavenly Father during this season of uncertainty and physical isolation.
by David Folker
Click here for your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory’ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Ever tried staring at the sun? Good luck. Within seconds you cannot help but avert your gaze, less you do permanent damage to your eyes. I remember being somewhat stunned as a youth to learn that the moon was ‘nothing but a rock’ orbiting our planet, its pale radiance a reflection of light from our star. (Another mind-blowing revelation for a child. Space is awesome.)
Are you frustrated with your own self-efforts? Perhaps you are grinding yourself over a lack of faith. Or berating yourself for not being good enough. Maybe amid this crisis, you’ve slipped back into a bad habit that you thought you’d kicked, and your view of yourself is anything but glowing. You want to be more like Jesus, but your greatest efforts lead to nothing but failure.
Today’s verse is a blessed reminder that our self-efforts count as nothing in the end. True victory over our fears, our unfaithfulness, and our sinful patterns comes from beholding the Saviour. All we have to do is fix our eyes on him.
You are like the moon. You are transformed when you keep your eyes on all that he has done. God himself was willing to die to set you free from the curse of sin. That is no small thing. God’s love for you is as vast as the heavens themselves. Knowing this truth and fixing our eyes upon it, our insecurities and old self cannot help but melt away. How can we ever be the same again?
With your face fixed firmly on Jesus, you cannot help but reflect his radiance. I’m sure you’ll agree that humanity needs some comfort right now. Let us not raise a facade, nor paint a false image of bravado. We are broken, dusty vessels, reflecting the majesty of an eternal God, whose love for humanity is so intimate that he knows each one of us by name. It’s incredible to consider. And should we each carry the light of this truth into the world around us, it will never be the same again.
Lord, I want to be a reflector of your grace. Transform me. Holy Spirit, grant me a fresh revelation of Jesus; of his beauty, his perfection, his radiance. Thank you that you have made me accepted in the beloved. May I forever be transformed into his likeness for all the world to see. Amen.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
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