I recently had the opportunity to minister to a group of ladies at a women’s conference. I shared with them from 2 Corinthians 3:18, which says, “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.”
I am a woman, and I was speaking to women, but isn’t it interesting that this passage isn’t gender specific? In fact, most scriptures aren’t… which means they apply to every person.
What do you see?
Our verse says with unveiled (or we could say, unmasked) face, we behold the glory of the Lord each time we catch a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror. I know that’s probably not how you would describe yourself (as the “glory” of God), but it’s what God sees. I used to struggle with this thought too, but I eventually realized it was because I was only looking at my mirror through my perspective.
The first reason God sees His glory in us is because of His Son. Paul said in Colossians, it “…is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1:27). In other words, when God looks at you, He sees Jesus. This alone is enough to make you glorious!
Transformation takes place from the inside-out, so as you grow in knowledge of God’s Word and take steps to apply it to your life, you actually begin to reflect Jesus. One decision at a time, you are being transformed “…into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another…”
Looking at your reflection
Chris Herron was an NBA basketball player who struggled with drugs and addiction, ultimately losing his career to it. In an ESPN documentary I watched one time, Chris said, “Before I got sober, I always took my razor and toothbrush with me in the shower. Always. Then one day my wife asked why I didn’t do that any more. And I realized for the first time it was because I could finally look myself in the mirror. Before, even a few moments of shaving or brushing my teeth was too long to look at my own reflection. I didn’t like the person looking back at me.”
I don’t think Chris is much different than most people (including myself). I always saw my mirror as the enemy because I was ashamed of the person looking back at me— but that was before I learned to see “Christ in me.”
So I want to challenge you today to consider your mirror.
1. Do you avoid it?
2. Do you only glance quickly and move on so you don’t have to face it?
3. Do you see Christ in you?
Remember, it’s not about perfection. It’s about transformation–one decision at a time.
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2 MSG)
I can almost bet you are not who you used to be. My prayer is that you will begin to see the transformation. God’s Word always reflects His perspective, not ours. So let His Word be true when you look into the mirror of His love and grace.
