I transplanted one of my “houseplants” last spring to our new front yard landscape. Amazingly, it survived the heatwaves in July and August. This morning, I noticed its glowing orange petals in the early dawn.

New hope makes us bold. Bold enough to share it with others. Rather than hide behind a veil of religious works, hardened in our hearts, we can turn to Christ Jesus the Lord and know His glory. He allows the veil to drop and starts to heal us from the inside out.

In the OR, the surgical staff drapes a patient to ensure no germ will enter the sterile field. In the same way, our Lord provides something better than a veil (of religious works). He actually drapes His love around us when He asks us to be devoted to His kingdom come and His will to be done. It is a new life with a glorious purpose.

“From glory to glory” is a phrase used in David Crowder’s song, Everything Glorious. It’s also used in this passage. When we reflect God’s glory, we are transformed. – Teresa #Christlike #caringforothers #vulnerabilitybringschange #freedomfromtheveil

P. S. Most importantly, the Spirit of the LORD brings freedom. His Spirit seals us with a deposit of God’s promise for redemption (buying us back to himself in the here and now) and resurrection (raising us up after death, not to be unclothed but clothed with a new body) Ephesians 1:13,14.

2 Corinthians 3:4 (ESV) 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God

2 Corinthians 3:18-22 (ESV). 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one[c] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[d] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Read full chapter
Footnotes

2 Corinthians 3:2 Some manuscripts your
2 Corinthians 3:3 Greek fleshly hearts
2 Corinthians 3:16 Greek he
2 Corinthians 3:17 Or this Lord
2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord
2 Corinthians 3:18 Greek from glory to glory