EXODUS 34:29-35 – When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.”
THEME OF THE DAY: SHINING FACES. Have you ever had someone come up to you and say, “Your face glows”? I have, but it was because of a very bad sunburn. I don’t know if it was actually glowing, but it wasn’t normal. In today’s scripture Moses had a shining face and it impacted the people who saw him. The scripture states “They were afraid to come near him.” Why did his face shine? We are told it was because he was talking to God. And the impact was so intense upon the people, Moses put a veil over his face to protect them.
It is highly unlikely any of us are going to leave our prayer closets one morning and find ourselves glowing before others like Moses. Nor are we likely to travel to Mount Sinai and have an encounter with God as did Moses. However, there is to be very real and noticeable transformation in our lives observable by others because we are Christians. And that transformation is because of “beholding” Jesus in His Word, in prayer, and by our obedience to His clear commands. In fact, the Apostle Paul would tell the Corinthian believers of this transformation – And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So with that background, let’s make two applications from this transformation that is to occur in the Christian life. First, understand that change is expected in us. There are no spiritually stagnant, spiritually standing still, or spiritually passive Christians. Well, that isn’t totally correct. There is one type – the backslidden Christian; the one who has drifted into worldliness, neglected the things of the Lord, and has basically become no different than the unbeliever with the exception of one thing. The backslidden Christian is miserable in their backsliding. Though they try to find pleasure in the world, it is vanity, and they know it. As for their face? There is not shining or reflecting of the Lord. All we see is misery. But for the healthy Christian, transformation will occur. It is sometime slow, but always sure, and it will be transformation into the character of the Lord Jesus – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 2:22-23a). Here is a good measuring tool of this “shining change” – ask someone close to you, a spouse or brother or sister to hold you accountable and let you know over a period of time if this “shining” is happening!
The second application from this transformation is that we don’t wait for a “holy zap” from God. This is not “let go and let God” work. We are to be diligent in the Word, prayer and obedience. Without the discipline of all three, no shining face, or no beholding the glory of the Lord which means, “no transformation.” Lazy Christians don’t shine. May God help us as we seek this change, this shining of the character of our Lord Jesus.
PRAYER: “Father, may I be so close to Your Son that people notice a difference in me.”
QUOTE: “We may not shine like Moses, but there must be a distinct difference about us because we know Christ.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim