Changed Into His Likeness

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord:

are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another:” (2 Corinthians 3:18 RSV)

We may spend time amid the wonders of Creation admiring and searching the natural world and have an exact knowledge of Genesis, but unless all this makes us more like Jesus, it matters little.

We may know the words of the prophets by heart and have a clear vision of the Revelation to John, but unless this knowledge makes us gentle and patient like Jesus, we are wasting our time.

We may serve our brethren faithfully and entertain them regularly, but unless they begin to see the Hands and Feet of Jesus at work in us, it will all be forgotten.

We may think we have clear insight into the Scriptures and understand the intricacies of the covenants, but unless they make us love others as Jesus loved, then our knowledge is but a tinkling bell.

We may be able to recite the words of Jesus perfectly, but unless He lives in us every moment of every day, those words stored in our memories are not doing their work.

We may move among some of God’s people and enjoy their company, but unless we are prepared to wash the feet of everyone who knows the Lord and beyond...we may not be ready to see Him as He is.

We may give a helping hand to a weary traveler, but unless we can love the unlovable and touch the untouchable, we have not become fully like Jesus.

From the “Bible Study Monthly” Sept./Oct. 2004

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us a beautiful picture of the sanctified life. We quote here from Moffatt’s translation:

“Love is very patient, very kind. Love knows no jealousy; love makes no parade, gives itself no airs, is never rude, never selfish, never irritated, never resentful; love is never glad when others go wrong; love is gladdened by goodness, always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient.”