October 10 | 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

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DAILY READING

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 

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REFLECTION

In Christ -- You are Free Indeed

By Dave Thompson

This is a great passage. Basically it tells us that with the Holy Spirit and believing in Christ, we are free from condemnation and will someday be in Heaven with Christ. Not to mention how our lives here on earth will also be directed and joyful (However not always free from turmoil, but we can handle bad times with Christ and the Holy Spirit)..

It reminds me of my conversion back in 1971. It was the fall of the year and my school, Houghton Academy, took all of the boys on a campout. It turned out to be a cold night, so I, along with four other boys, decided to rig the bus seats into beds and sleep in the bus. It got colder and I was not getting much sleep. I had been at the Christian school for a couple of months and saw many Christian kids. As our scripture taught, they didn't have a veil over their faces or hearts. They were happy and I was miserable. As I lay there not sleeping, I started to think about the contrast between them and me. You see I came from a broken home with a lot of bad habits and I accepted that as normal. However, it didn't bring happiness. Anyway, at the Christian school, we went to church weekly and had chapel two times per week. So, I was laying there thinking about all of this when I sensed a "wee small voice" encouraging me to give my life to the Lord. I prayed the sinners prayer paraphrased in my own language (something more like "Lord, I am miserable and they seem so content with life. If you are really there, please come into this sinner's life). A peace came over me and I'm sure I was glowing at that moment and for many years ahead. I had my veils removed from my face and heart and others started to notice a change in me. I was happy.

So, it was that nearly 54 years ago, my veils were lifted and I have enjoyed a wonderful Christian life with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I love the last verses of the passage. Read it below:

"But whenever anyone 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 freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for saving me and making me whole with you. Thanks for removing the veils. I pray that you will use this devotional and the lives of Christians in our church and around the world to persuade others to give their lives to you. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE THOMPSON

I am the administrator of the Daily Worship Blog. My wife, Carla, and I have been attending UALC for seven years at the 9 o'clock service at Mill Run. We have two children, Catherine and Aaron. I have been a Christian for 53 years and am thankful that my Savior has given me two spiritual gifts that have carried me both spiritually and vocationally all my life: they are teaching and administration. I look forward to spending many years here at UALC to serve my Lord and Savior.