Beholding The Glory Of The Lord

II 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 from the Lord, the Spirit. 

4: 7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.

As we "behold" Him by seeking Him in His Word, we are drinking in the "milk of the Word" and chewing on the "meat of the Word," nourishing our spiritual life. This is how we grow up in the Lord, by getting to know Him better every day and learning to live by His ways, loving Him and loving one another more each day.

This glory is growing in our spirit through the ministry of the Holy Spirit Who lives in our spirit. This "treasure" is God's life in us, and we are to let it grow. All living things grow if they're not hindered. That's why we are to see to it that we remove from our thinking and our lives everything that is evil or filthy or vile. These negative things are the dis-eases that hinder the life we have. 

And we have this shining life shielded by our physical bodies, made of dust. This reminds us that the glory is not from us, but from God; and we are to give Him the credit, the glory, for whatever He is doing in and through us.

So my "clay pot" is being transformed into a "crystal vase" molecule by molecule, and when someone may "see" Christ in me is when His glory is shining through a minuscule "crack" of my clay that has been changed to crystal (or diamond). 

That may be why, in our glorified bodies, we will shine like the Sun, the clay all gone, transformed into crystal diamond.

O my Father, Your plan is so ingenious! To know us even in our depravity, to send Your Son to cleanse us of all that is unclean and fill us with Your own Life, Your Holy Spirit. Then to work on us, molding us into the very image of Your Son; and work through us to others, showing them Your goodness, kindness and greatness. 

Father, You have loved us, loved me, more than I can imagine. Your great Plan of the Ages incorporates each of our lives--our decisions and choices we "freely" make all further Your Plan. You have determined it so, and it is. 

What You do, Father, stands. No one can add to it or annihilate it (the First Law of Thermodynamics, Conservation of Matter). Mankind can take what You have made and re-form it into many new things, but it's all what You made. You alone are Creator. 

Father, I look forward to the Second Coming of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will not come in humility, as He did before, but will come in His Glory, with all His Holy Ones, both angelic and sainted. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!