How God Transforms Us into His Image, From Glory to Glory

Daily Devotional – Friday, January 7, 2022

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.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

I thank God for the Christian movies I watched in my childhood and youth. I was especially fond of films that reenacted the life of Jesus. I learned a lot about Jesus. More importantly, I desired to be like Jesus.

I remember shedding tears of joy when Jesus healed people. I marveled at His teachings, especially through parables His parables. When they hanged Jesus on the cross, tears flowed down my cheeks.

A Gradual Negative Transformation of the Mind

Along the way, however, I discovered novels, magazines, secular movies and other forms of entertainment that began to erode the impact of the Christian movies and Bible stories in my life. I gradually entered a different world with different values from those I embraced before.

It took years of experimentation and the wise counsel of godly mentors and teachers for me to realize that what I watched, read and listened to impacted my life, for good or for evil. By then I had acquired some negative habits that proved hard to reverse.

By Beholding We Change

I came to realize later that there is a Biblical principle behind my experience. It holds that the object or person we focus our minds on transforms us to become like it. This rule states that by beholding we change.

Paul stated it this way, “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.” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Battle for Our Minds

As we contemplate the love and kindness of God, we gradually become loving and kind like Him. In essence, if God is to transform our characters, we must spend quality time with Him every day.

God and Satan are competing over our minds and attention every day. Many of us focus on God on the day we attend church. On that day, we study the Bible, and praise and worship God. Satan often takes a back seat then.

How to Focus Our Minds on God

Conversely, during the next six days, television, social media, friends and the internet take our attention away from God. We watch, listen to and discuss topics that God frowns upon. The devil takes control of our minds.

Unless we make Bible study, prayer and witnessing daily activities, the things we behold on the other six days will uproot the seed God plants in our hearts on weekends. If we are to be transformed into the image of God, we must behold God daily.

What Content Should a Christian’s Mind Focus On?

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8).

While we cannot completely ignore what is happening around us, we must endeavour to think about and focus on Christian virtues most of the time. Our choice of television programs, social media content, music, literature and friends should be in tandem with Philippians 4:8.

Choose to Focus on Jesus

Character transformation is not a passive event. It entails making deliberate choices to focus the mind on Jesus. As we behold His sinless life, sacrificial death and intercession on our behalf, we will be changed to become like Him.

Lord Jesus, keep me near Your cross that I may behold Your love and kindness and be transformed into Your likeness.