2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (NRSV)
Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, Verse 13not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. Verse 14But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Verse 15Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; Verse 16but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Verse 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Verse 18And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Chapter 4Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. Verse 2We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
Devotion
God acts in transparent ways. God is all about revealing God's self to us and to the world. The issue isn't "Who is God?" or "What is God about?" but rather "Why don't we see the God who is so fully present?" With veils over our eyes, we can see whatever we want to see, justify whatever we want to justify, limit our vision of God to what's most familiar or most comfortable. But God has transparently come amongst us in the fullness of Christ, and the Holy Spirit has removed the veils that restrict our vision. As we move through this day, God is fully present. We are called to be part of whatever God is doing in our world today. May we be as open to see as God is to be seen.
Prayer
Triune God, you move in our world in fullness in order to redeem and restore creation. You've called us as the baptized to go with you into the world. By your mercy, let us see your redemptive work so that we may be a part of it with you today. Amen.