2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Take Away the Veil
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 21, 2020 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.
(Understanding the Text) Paul is describing a process. “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.” Paul speaks of seeing the outcome of the law being given to Moses, which was a bright shining glow from his face that disturbed people around him. Moses was changed by being with God. Paul says that the same will happen to us, but unlike Moses who hid that change away from people, Paul says that he wants to broadcast it openly.
Paul says that in hiding from the law, their hearts became hard. Their minds became clouded. In refusing to see the light, their vision was darkened so that they could not see clearly and in the process, they could not comprehend clearly either. When we view the scriptures through human wisdom and knowledge, we will not see clearly. Our very natures are working against us. Our hardened, world-weary, broken psyches make it impossible to read and understand the word clearly. It is only when we see Jesus’ glory that our minds are healed, and we can begin to understand the scriptures. Paul says that the only way to take away the veil that covers our minds and hearts is through Christ. In fact, the only way to understand the Old Testament is to see it through the lens of Messiah. Only by looking at the events through the knowledge of Jesus can we understand what is happening and the relationship between God and man. Paul is speaking of his own history, as well as that of the Jews in general. Paul read the scriptures with a veil over his understanding until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Then he had to go back and reread everything through a new lens with a new clear understanding.
(Revelation of God) Sometimes, we forget that when the apostles speak of “the Lord” that they are speaking of Jesus, their own personal Savior and Friend. Thus, when Paul says that “the Lord is the Spirit,” he is saying that Jesus and the Spirit are one and the same. He is saying that the Spirit who lives in each believer is Jesus living in each believer. Paul says that as we look at Jesus without a veil covering our face, we are being changed to be like Him. This is done through the Spirit living in us. Paul is describing a process. He speaks of one degree of glory to another. This is one degree of God’s goodness to another degree, adding bit by bit to our becoming good like Jesus. This is not an abracadabra instantaneous transformation. It is a step-by-step incremental transformation. However, it is still a sure transformation even though it takes time, and we have to go through a process.
The context is that Paul had to speak strongly to the Corinthians about their unloving and belligerent attitudes and tolerance of sin. They repented, so Paul is explaining to them that they are in a process of growth. The Spirit lives in them and if they just keep focused on Jesus and accept the light and life that comes from Him, they will be transformed to be like Him.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that it is important not to veil the face when looking at God’s glory. Jesus is God’s glory. The Spirit is God’s glory. Veiling our face means not accepting all of the light of God’s goodness. Too often, we reject letting Jesus into our whole life. We choose to have divided hearts. It is when we totally commit to following Jesus that He can transform us more. I don’t become good by myself. I become good by focusing on Jesus and His goodness. I am transformed by letting the Spirit work freely in me. I can only do that by trusting in His love for me and His good intentions for me. He wants the best for me. God, help me to trust You.