Walking into our corporate worship each Sunday is a joy and privilege but especially now as I am greeted with the biggest smile of recognition by my granddaughter, Amelia. She’s sitting with her parents and sometimes she’s already found her Poppy, but when I catch her eye, I know it! There’s no mistaking the joy and it’s very contagious! I see faces around her reflecting it almost immediately. I wonder how differently our faith would appear if the joy of the Lord were so evident on our faces when we recognize one another?
“When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord.
So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.
But Moses called out to them and asked Aaron and all the leaders of the community to come over, and he talked with them.
Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.
When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil.
But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he would remove the veil until he came out again.
Then he would give the people whatever instructions the Lord had given him, and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face.
So he would put the veil over his face until he returned to speak with the Lord.”
Exodus 34:29-35 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.34.29-35.NLT
Moses represented God before the children of Israel in a time prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit on all who believe in the only begotten Son of the Father, Jesus, the Christ. God revealed so much to Moses for the benefit of the chosen nation beyond His commandments on the tablets of stone inscribed by the hand of God. God spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to a friend. (Exodus 33:11)
“There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.”
Deuteronomy 34:10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.34.10.NLT
When the people of Israel saw this visible manifestation of the glory of God in the face of His servant, Moses, they were terrified. The change in Moses from his time with the Lord was striking and visible. Is mine? Is yours?
“The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face.
For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away.
Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?
If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!
Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.
We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away.
But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.
And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
2 Corinthians 3:7-9, 12-13, 16-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.3.7-18.NLT
As we grow in our faith by communing with God in prayer and through His Word, we will come to know the Lord and we will begin to reflect his character more and more. I am still the same person but I have been given a new heart and a new mind. Just as my features mature with age, so God’s Spirit will change me. I’m still me but He becomes gradually more and more recognizable in me. His Spirit quickens my mind to hear His voice and think His thoughts, teaching me and reminding me throughout the day. His Word transforms me by renewing my mind as I daily soak it in. (John 14:26, Romans 12:2)
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.
Remain in my love.
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.
Yes, your joy will overflow!
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
John 15:9-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.11.NLT
“Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.
As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.
Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”
The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.”
Matthew 17:1-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.17.1-8.NLT
“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father.
The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets.
You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative.
No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”
2 Peter 1:16-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.1.16-21.NLT
“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.
They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
2 Corinthians 4:4, 6-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.4-7.NLT
The glory is and always will be His, but He has fashioned this vessel, this mortal body, to house something so incredible! In Him, our joy is complete. If you pass me while driving down the road and no one else is in the car with me, there’s a really good chance that I’ll be singing or praying right out loud. I used to feel a little silly about this but I do some of my best thinking aloud. And if it makes you smile, then let’s just call it what it is. The joy of the Lord is contagious!
“The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
Psalms 28:7 NLT
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