~Reflecting the Glory of the Lord!~

"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." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Reflect means to throw or bend back (light, for example) from a surface, to give back or show an image of (an object); mirror, to make apparent; express or manifest, to bring as a consequence, to bend back, to be bent or thrown back, to give something back, as light or sound, to give evidence of the characteristics or qualities of someone or something 

So, to reflect the glory of the Lord we must be bent back. Without Christ we are bent out of shape, crooked perhaps, (crooked= bent; curved; curving; winding, winding in moral conduct; devious; froward; perverse; going out of the path of rectitude; given to obliquity or wandering from duty.) but when we come into contact with Christ, He has the power to bend us, shape us, mold us or throw us back in the right direction. The story of Paul comes to mind and His encounter with the Light. When we are walking in Him, we can be filled with His light and that Light can shine in and through us.

“...that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world...” Philippians 2:15

And we are not our own, to do and live as we please...we should live our lives in such a way so as to glorify the Lord and to give our lives back to Him! God made the ultimate sacrifice of sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sin...and yours...the very least we could do is give our lives to Him!

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Romans 12:1

And if we are to reflect Christ, we must show an image of Him, to mirror Him. 

"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” John 13:15

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1,2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

We should also strive to give evidence of the characteristics or qualities of our Lord and Savior. If you were to look into a mirror at yourself, you would be a little surprised if you saw something completely different...wouldn't you? Just as a mirror gives a true reflection of us, we too, should be striving to give a true reflection of our Savior. We must allow Him to come into our lives and let Him daily knock off the rough edges, cleanse us from our sin, and allow Him to shape and mold our attitudes, thoughts and actions...our every part...all the way to the core, so that we are constantly being made into a clearer reflection of Him and what He is all about. Complete abandonment of our sinful ways and selfish desires and yielding our all entirely to Him, so that we too can truly say "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20

Lord, help me to completely, surrender my all to you, that in doing so, You would be what others see and that you would be glorified in and through me! In Jesus' precious Name, Amen.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1,2

Let's reflect the Light of the Son!