Morning Dew

Key Passage – 2 Corinthians 3: 7-18

Key Text – 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.

Legalism and religion are some of the most destructive devices man has developed. They are deadly twins that rob people of God’s grace and virtue. They are man made attempts to look holy, talk holy and walk holy. But underneath it is a sham and has no power to produce the life of God in anyone.

It all started a long time ago in the Garden of Eden, when man fell after being tempted by the serpent. They realised they were naked and promptly made coverings for themselves, using fig leaves. This is the birth of religion. Every human attempt to keep God’s law, that is not empowered by God Himself, is simply religion. No one can walk in Holiness, except they be empowered by God to do so. This is why grace is so important. Most of those types of actions are external and not internal. That’s why it is not about what you wear or eat or drink. It is about what God has done inside of you, that eventually produces the fruit of a transformed life.

If God has not cleansed us, we are not cleansed. If God has not sanctified us, we are not sanctified. These matters are God’s exclusive preserve. He washes, He sanctifies. He Redeems. He Saves. He heals. He justifies and He glorifies.

Legalism and religion, makes men run away from God and we look to human efforts to solve our problems. Grace on the other hand, turns us towards the Lord and this is the amazing truth about grace. It turns you towards God and His mercy. Then something extremely beautiful takes place. As we behold the Lord, seeing His beauty, Holiness, Splendour, Majesty, Graciousness, we also start getting transformed into His image.

So for a human being to be transformed, we must receive the grace to come into God’s presence, and once we are in His presence looking at Him we progressively get transformed into His image. Moses went up the mountain and spent an extended period with God; he came down with a face that shone with the glory of God. That was in the Old Testament. Today, we can all get into God’s presence, not because we have done anything right, but we are subjects of God’s Kingdom and of His grace. And as we look at Jesus, we are being transformed into His image, from glory to glory, by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is liberation. That is freedom. That is grace.

Turn to Jesus and you will find transforming power.

I want to end by reminding you of this beautiful song composed in 1922 by Helen H. Lemmel

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

• Refrain:
  Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
  Look full in His wonderful face,
  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace.

Let us pray: Father God, today I abandon all my self-righteousness and all my attempts to be holy. I fall on your grace and ask you to please sanctify me by your Spirit and cleanse me from all sin and evil inclinations. I look to you my Daddy and as I behold your beauty, I know the Holy Spirit is transforming me into your image. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for helping me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.