Becoming Brighter

Scripture: “And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

This year I finally found a workout I like. It’s called “barre” and if you don’t know what it is, basically picture a dance studio with a ballet barre that’s used for dancers and non-dancers to do all sorts of athletic movements until your muscles burn and you can’t walk up the stairs the next day.

When I went to my first class, I was super nervous because I haven’t worked out since, well, who knows. But, I grew up going to dance classes since I was teeny tiny and I’ve always loved ballet. Right away when class began, I could tell there was a difference between those who were dancers and those who weren't.

There’s just a certain way that dancers carry themselves. Have you ever met a girl who does ballet and you can just tell by the way she walks into the room?

In the same way I can tell dancers from nondancers in my barre classes, I think we should be able to sense a difference between followers of Jesus and those who don’t know Him yet.

In scripture, we’re told that our lives gradually become brighter and more beautiful as we become more like God.

As we are profoundly impacted by the gospel and as we look to become more like Jesus, we are different. We carry something different out into the world, it should look and feel different. It should be noticeable. The theological term for this is sanctification.

There are some ways this is obvious. Scripture tells us that we see fruit in other’s lives when they’re followers of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we should be noticeably more patient, more kind, more loving, and more gracious to the people around us.

We should be carrying the presence and peace of Jesus everywhere we go. It is a big responsibility, and we’re all going to mess it up sometimes. Sometimes, our actions or our words aren’t an accurate representation of Christ.

When I named these devotionals, I wanted to focus on entering into a holy place. I think it’s so important that we go into the presence of God every single day.

Make a practice and a habit of it, and your life will be changed. You will be changed. But that’s not the end of it.

God enters our lives. And we become like Him. We enter into a holy place to meet with Him, and He enters into our lives.

It is not just for you, it’s for the world around you to be impacted when they see the difference between you and the world.

It should be noticeable. It should be significant. So come, read, encounter, get filled up. But also go, be transformed, and be a catalyst for transformation. Amen?

Journaling Prompts:

-How have you seen the transformative work of God in yourself?

-How have you seen the transformative work of God in someone in your life?

-Invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate any areas of your life that need more transformation from Him this week.

Action Step:

Do you notice the peace and presence of Jesus when you’re around someone in your life? Take the time to tell them today. It’s as simple as, “Hey the world is often really confusing, but when I talk to you you always bring so much confidence and clarity to the conversation. Thanks for being like Jesus to me!”

Prayer:

Hey God, thank you for being a God who brings transformation to us and to our lives. I pray you would help us to see the difference that you bring this week. Fill us up with resources, your Word, our community, and communion with you, and help us to go out and bring the change you want to see in the world today. Amen.

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