Beholding and Becoming

 From Veil to Glory 

Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:4–18

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Paul reminds us that our confidence does not rest in our spiritual competence but in God’s sufficiency: “Not that we are competent in ourselves… but our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). The old covenant, written on stone, revealed holiness but could not renew the heart. The new covenant, however, is written “not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (v.3). Lent exposes our limits — our inability to transform ourselves by effort alone. Yet this very weakness becomes the doorway to grace. As the prophet promises, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). What the law could describe, the Spirit now performs within us.

Paul’s image of the veil reaches back to Moses (Exodus 34:29–35). The reflected glory faded, and so the veil remained. But “whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:16). Transformation begins with turning. Eugene Peterson beautifully paraphrases this moment: “Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are — face to face!” The glory we behold in Christ does not diminish; it deepens. Charles Spurgeon observed, “The more we see Christ, the more we shall be like Christ.” Beholding leads to becoming. Lent is not about spiritual cosmetics but about honest turning — allowing the Spirit to remove what obscures our vision.

And so we rest in this steady promise: we “are being transformed” (v.18). The work is ongoing, Spirit-driven, and certain. The same word used of Christ’s transfiguration (Matthew 17:2) describes the quiet reshaping of our lives. Walter Brueggemann reminds us that God’s glory is not static brilliance but active presence — covenantal, drawing near to restore and renew. As we contemplate the Lord’s glory, the Spirit conforms us to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29), moving us “from glory to glory.” Lent, then, is not self-improvement season but glory-reception season. We stand unveiled before Him, and slowly — often imperceptibly — He changes us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We confess that our sufficiency comes not from ourselves but from You. Remove every veil that keeps us from seeing Your glory clearly, and write Your Word upon our hearts. Transform us by Your Spirit from glory to glory into the likeness of Christ, we pray. Amen.