Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:16–18 (NKJV)
“Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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.”
In a previous devotion, If Your Presence Does Not Go With Us, I shared about the importance of God’s presence in our lives. As I continued thinking about this, my thoughts turned to Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 3 and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
When a person comes to Christ, the veil is removed. God opens our eyes to His truth, and we begin to see things through a new lens. Our hearts are changed as Christ comes to dwell within us. God promised in Ezekiel 36:26 that He would take away our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh.
I especially love the words, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
I have quoted this verse many times while leading worship or sharing a message in church. But when I think about the work of the Holy Spirit, I am reminded of a time when I was attending New Life Bible College, sometime between 1999 and 2001.
I remember being in worship during a seminar. As I worshiped the Lord, these words began coming from my heart: “Your love, O Lord, is better than life itself.” These words reflect the heart of Psalm 63, where David expresses his longing for God and declares that His lovingkindness is better than life.
During that time of worship, the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit became so real to me. It was as though rivers of His love and peace were flowing over me. I experienced His presence washing over me, cleansing me, and making me whole.
It was a reminder of how deeply God loves us and how His presence reaches into the deepest places of our hearts.
David writes in Psalm 63 about his soul thirsting for God, like a dry and weary land longing for water. He understood what it meant to hunger and thirst for the living God.
There is something powerful about a heart that longs for His presence. We were never meant to live our Christian lives apart from Him, relying only on our own strength or understanding. We need the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in us.
Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to be with them and dwell in them (John 14:16–17). After His death and resurrection, the promise of the Spirit became a reality for those who belong to Christ. The Holy Spirit now dwells within us, and He continues to work in our hearts and lives.
This is how we are transformed from glory to glory.
As we turn our hearts toward the Lord, seek Him, and behold His glory, the Holy Spirit works within us to make us more like Jesus. He changes the way we think, softens our hearts, and teaches us to walk in His truth and love.
The liberty Paul describes is more than a moment we experience during a worship service. It is the freedom we have in Christ and the ongoing work of His Spirit within us. We can encounter His presence in a powerful moment, but He also desires to transform the way we live when we leave that place.
The more we come to know Him, the more our hearts are changed by His love.
Are we making room in our hearts to seek His presence and allow Him to continue His work in us?
May we never lose our hunger for the living God. May our souls continue to thirst for Him, and may we allow His Spirit to lead us into greater freedom and transform us into the image of Jesus, from glory to glory.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and for the freedom we have in Christ. Give us hearts that hunger and thirst for Your presence. Continue washing us, renewing us, and transforming us by Your Spirit. Help us to reflect the love and character of Jesus in everything we do. May we never become satisfied with simply knowing about You, but continue to grow in our relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
