A REFLECTION OF HIS GLORY

Today’s Bible readings are Job 31:1-33:33, 2 Corinthians 3:1-18, Psalm 43:1-5, & Proverbs 22:8-9

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

¹⁶ But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ 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.

Did you know that you are a mirror? That’s right. You are a mirror. According to the bible when you come to Christ you become a mirror that begins to reflect the glory of God. What exactly does that mean?

First, it means that the life that you live is a life of victory. Jesus triumphed over the enemy at the cross. Jesus defeated satan at the resurrection. Sin was broken when His precious blood flowed. Jesus freed you from the curse of sickness as stripes were laid on His back at the whipping post. Jesus made a way for you to come to the Father as He suffered in your place.

All of these things lead to a life of victory for us. Listen to what the prophet said about this:

Isaiah 53:10-12

¹⁰ But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. ¹¹ When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. ¹² I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels.
He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Jesus won the victory. He received the spoils of war. He shares those treasures with us. What a deal!!!

The second thing that we reflect is the power of Christ. Jesus has power of demons, sickness, & every form of darkness. He speaks & they all have to obey His command because He has authority of them all. He has been given the name above all names. He has all power.

We rarely question the fact that Jesus has all power. We all agree that He has power over demons, sickness, & darkness. Where we start to doubt is when we start to consider the fact that He has transferred that power to us.

Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In other words, Jesus is saying that that authority that He has is His to delegate to who ever He chooses. He chooses to delegate it to His church that is why He says:  ¹⁹ Therefore go… 

He wouldn’t send us without equipping us.

So in order that we be able to fulfill His mission, He gave us His authority just like He did the 12 apostles, the 72 disciples, & the 120 at the day of Pentecost.

This means that you can go out & cast out demons in Jesus name. This means that you can lay hands on the sick & they will recover. This means that you can breakthrough the darkness & spiritual wickedness that has kept cities & people lost for generations. It means that hell is terrified of you!!!

The third thing that we reflect is Christ’s love for people. Our heart is filled with love for humanity. That is why we give to missions. That is why we preach the gospel. That is why we reach out to the lost. It is the love of God in us moving us to action.

We can’t just sit by & do nothing. Love won’t allow us to do that. We also can’t just stay the same. Love wants to change us too. Love is what challenges us to reflect an even greater reflection of His glory.

Spend some time today considering what reflection you are casting to others. Make sure it is the glory of Christ. This is what you were designed to reflect!

Pastor Richard Schlotter