“We . . are being transformed . . with ever increasing glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV.
Real changes are deliberate and progressive rather than immediate.
Since our first grandchildren, Gayle has stubbornly perpetuated an annual day when each child’s height is measured, marked, and dated on the same piece of door trim. Each kid hopes for a spectacular burst of growth; in reality, their growth is noticeable but seldom if ever as notable as they wish. They want growth that surpasses and amazes their siblings and cousins, and probably to reassure themselves. Good health, profitable habits, and time seem to be the things that propel growth, not yearning or extra effort.
Like me, do you always want your progress to be noticeable and notable in your life? I am usually in a hurry and have high expectations of my ability to grow and change. My desire usually exceeds my ability. But in my life, changes seem to be ordinary and incremental, hardly worth bragging about and seldom spectacular. But maybe that’s God plan. Maybe the right changes are meant to be more deliberate and progressive than immediate. Be patient and faithful.
Isaiah describes process as basic to growth, “For precept must be upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” Isaiah 28:10 NKJV. Everything God does rests on everything God has done. Kindergarten built on what you learned at home, and that laid the necessary, educational foundation for Elementary studies and learning, and the same for Junior High, High School, and College. And all of that was just to prepare you for life itself. Education is a process of progress.
Paul describes the process of spiritual growth this way, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV. God’s glory emanating from your life is a process, “from glory to glory.”
In the above verse, I see three practical steps in the process of spiritual maturity: (1) “Unveiled faces,” suggests that nothing or no one can be allowed to distract or compete with your singular focus and dependence upon the Holy One who works within you. See Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV. (2) “Reflect the Lord’s glory . . into His likeness,” are the direction and defined goals to which you must dedicate your efforts – His glory and His likeness. (3) “Being transformed . . with ever increasing glory,”describes the incremental process whereby God accomplishes effective and enduring change through your experience and expression of His own glory. “Ever increasing glory;” I like the sound of that!
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 NIV. The longest journey begins with a single step and is completed by every succeeding step in the right direction. Real spiritual growth and development result from a process of progress. Read Zechariah 4:10 NKJV. You won’t become Christ-like all at once, but you can become a little more like Him each day. See Ephesians 4:13-15 NKJV. It isn’t how much of the Bible you know, but it is how much of the Bible you believe and obey every day. You will not impact a whole world all at once, but you can touch one life at every opportunity.
My prayer for you this day is that you learn to trust God’s process.