God’s Presence Transforms His People
Open Your Bible
Exodus 19:1-9, Exodus 19:16-20, Exodus 34:5-14, Exodus 34:27-35, 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
BY Rebecca Faires
When I read picture books about the garden of Eden to my children, I get asked a lot of questions about all the nakedness. “I can see Adam’s bottom!” my son shouts, knowing a cause for gleeful hilarity when he sees one.
So why were they naked? Genesis tells us there was no need for coverings because they were without shame (Genesis 2:25). In our original created state, our bottoms weren’t hilarious or embarrassing; they were what they were. But the shame we experience as a result of our sin takes away our freedom. God’s holy and righteous presence can shine a light on our humiliation, but through the power of Christ, He has also taken away our shame and given us freedom from it. The presence of God’s perfect Son transforms us from shameful to glorious.
By standing in God’s presence on Mount Sinai, Moses’s face was made gloriously radiant. God prepared him, saying, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you and will always believe you” (Exodus 19:9). But the children of Israel did not want to see, as they were scared and unable to look Moses straight in the face (Exodus 34:30; 2Corinthians 3:7). They needed Moses to cover up the traces of glory lingering around his eyes because it made them uncomfortable—I would imagine that it reminded them of their own shame and underscored the huge chasm between their own sin and a perfect, holy God (Exodus 34:33). But Moses had been transformed, and he didn’t even “realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the LORD” (v.29). This transformation is just a foreshadowing of the transformation we now experience through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
For if the ministry that brought condemnation had glory,
the ministry that brings righteousness overflows with even more glory.
In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious now by comparison
because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was set aside was glorious,
what endures will be even more glorious.
—2 Corinthians 3:9–11
The old covenant of the law is only a shadow of our new and finished covenant in Jesus Christ. The glory of His presence is even more gloriously available to us who live in His new covenant.
Have you ever felt unable to discipline your children because of your own sin, worried that your own imperfection precludes you from upholding the rules in your own home? Have you ever felt ashamed to stand up for the truth of the gospel because you are ashamed of something you have done in the dark? The transforming power of Christ has set us free. We can leave our sin behind and walk forward with confidence in His presence. We are made free by His presence. Christ lifts the veil! Indeed, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2Corinthians 3:17).
We are a free people. By all means, wear clothes! But walk forward leaving your sin and shame at the foot of Christ’s cross. The presence of the Lord equips us to do His good work without shame and fear. When you walk in His presence, the shame the world tries to pin on you can’t damage you. Let your face shine with His glory.
41 thoughts on "God’s Presence Transforms His People"
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I pray that I would become more and more like God as I walk with him.
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The song “There is freedom” came to mind when reading today’s passages. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
https://youtu.be/ltbLzGS8d8M?si=E8akfu9-prF65TNA
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JULIA C thank you for sharing today and also thank you for praying.
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@ERB: what an amazing update. Praise the Lord. For high blood pressure, if your mom can’t take medicine, if I may suggest green tea to take during this time. Daily consumption of green tea was scientifically proven to reduce high blood pressure, managing blood sugar, and preventing issues of heart diseases and strokes. Amazing! My dad drinks green tea every single day since his youth. Besides, green tea helps cognitive function of the brain, reducing chances of cancer, diabetes. I am switching from coffee now because of my fast. Coffee gives me crazy headaches during my fast because of withdrawal symptoms, and brain fog (I know your pain RHONDA J, what affliction!), and the Lord revealed to me I need to ditch coffee and have a lifestyle change. I am switching to matcha latte for my cup of joy in the morning after lots of research, and because of these great green tea benefits (still adjusting to the taste). May high blood pressure be normalized for your mom.
@KELLY (NEO), SEARCHING, TINA, FOSTER MAMA, VICTORIA E, TRICIA C, RHONDA J ❤️: thank you for wanting to join the fund raising for AMANDA NOBLE. I am still collecting names in my notebook.
Dear shes, I will be waiting in case more shes decide to join later, in case some might be reading later/ catching up. Thank you so much shes.❤️ May the Lord bless you richly for this seed you sow.
@MIA FAITH: lifting your family in prayers for God’s comfort and strength.
@AMANDA NOBLE: prayers for job opportunities with good pay to open up, and that your house is secured (not foreclosed) in Jesus’ Name, strength to endure the storm, and hope for the sweeter days ahead.@RHONDA J: prayers for your heart and this season of trial. Marriage is a humbling burning furnace for me as well. I cried a lot because of my husband in my prayer closet, i came out with red puffy eyes. Sometimes tears is the good healing for our soul. This song lyrics help me a lot “Blessings” by Laura Story, you can find on youtube ❤️.
Be blessed dear sisters ❤️.
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Happy Wednesday shes. I was very confused about the reading today at first, but thanks to your comments and insights, the understanding was lightened. What stood out to me was that the Law of Moses was called “ministry of death”, “ministry of condemnation”, ESV translation. I was confused at this part greatly, and I was praying for understanding. Why would God give this ministry of death first to precede the ministry of grace through Jesus? Should He not give the ministry of life to begin with? He is the author of life. And then, God is so wise. He is the master mind of human nature and human tendency. The Lord reminded me of the water baptism, and the order of it how it replicates the order of the law. Being completely in water symbolizes the burial, and being raised from the water is the resurrection of life, into the newness of life. Death must come first. And nothing reveals to us how DEAD we are better than the law. We only recognize that we are so bankrupt morally with God’s laws being given. And therefore, the ministry of the Law of Moses comes as a benchmark /ruler to measure the degrees of deathness human condition is at…then for us to desperately realize having the Savior is the ONLY way. Sadly, majority of people out there still think they are good, and they don’t need a saviour, based on social standards (which is okay for them to lust, to covet, to transgender, to tell a white lie, so on…), and the law ministry will surely reveal how dead/lost those people are based on God’s ruler/standards.
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Thank you Kelly (Neo) for your prayers for Jesse and asking how he is doing after he fractured his hip. He is improving and initially was using a walker all the time and is using his cane more now. He was using a cane prior to falling. He had back surgery last year and has a rod and pins in his back as well as in his hip now.
Please continue to pray for his perseverance and resiliency in physical matters where he is compromised.
I appreciate your prayers and your follow up!❤️ -
This is very relevant. Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite in speaking about faith because of things I have done. But my sin is paid for. Shame is not something I need to dwell in. I have repented and I’m
Doing better. -
Amen
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