Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18
“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.”
What is worship? It is coming to the presence of the Lord to see Him. Worship is different from prayer, which is coming to the presence of the Lord to ask from Him. When we worship, we do not expect the Lord to give or do something for us. We simply want to see Him in His glory. Isaiah the prophet wrote, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1) David the king wrote, “So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.” (Psalms 63:2)
What do we seek when we come to the presence of the Lord? Do we seek His hand or His face. If we seek His hand, it means we want Him to show His strength to us. But, if we seek His face, it means we want Him to show His glory to us. The Lord’s strength will change our situation whereas the Lord’s glory will change ourselves. How can we experience the Lord’s strength that will change our situation? By the prayer of faith. How can we experience the Lord’s glory that will change ourselves? By the true worship.
When we behold the Lord’s glory, we will be transformed into His image. His glory will make us partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter1:4). Being transformed into the Lord’s image is not becoming a better person but becoming a completely different person. It is not like a kitten growing into a cat but rather like a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. This transformation is supernatural, from glory to glory. And, it is done by the Spirit of the Lord.
Paul the apostle wrote, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6) The glory of God is in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is this glory like? John the apostle wrote, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” (Revelation 1:14, 16)
The glory of God in the face of the Lord Jesus is shown in His head and hair, His eyes, His mouth, and His countenance. His head and hair are white like wool, as white as snow. This is purity and holiness. Peter the apostle quoted the Lord Himself who said, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) His eyes are like a flame of fire. This is the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning. Isaiah the prophet wrote, “When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,” (Isaiah 4:4) Out of His mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword. This is the word of God as the sword of the Spirit. Paul the apostle wrote, “And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
(Ephesians 6:17) His countenance is like the sun shining in its strength. This is the brightness of His glory. The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, “who being the brightness of His glory.” (Hebrews 1:3)
When we behold the Lord’s head and hair, which are white like wool, and as white as snow, we will see His purity and holiness. We will be made pure and holy. When we behold the Lord’s eyes which are like a flame of fire, we will experience His spirit of judgment and His spirit of burning. Our filth will be burned and our life will be purged. When we behold the Lord’s mouth, we will see a sharp two edged sword which is the word of God and we will receive His living and powerful word. This word will pierce us, dividing our soul and our spirit, our joints and our marrow, as well as discerning the thoughts and intents of our heart. When we behold the Lord’s countenance, which is like the sun shining in its strength, we will see the brightness of His glory. The Lord’s glory will be risen upon us and we will arise and shine as His light.
How can we always behold the Lord’s glory when we worship? We must come to the Lord’s presence with an unveiled face. First, we must believe that the veil on our face has been taken away in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14). Second, we must always turn our heart to the Lord. Paul the apostle wrote, “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3:16) Third, we must give ourselves as the Lord’s mirror, so that our lives will become the reflection of His glory.