ENCOUNTERING GOD’S GLORY FOR A TRANSFORMED LIFE
SCRIPTURE READINGS
- EXODUS 24:12-18
- 2 PETER 1:16-21
- MATTHEW 17:1-9
REFLECTION
Transfiguration Sunday celebrates the glorious revelation of God through Jesus Christ. It marks the moment Christ was revealed as the true fulfilment of the law and the prophets. Our theme for today is “Encountering God’s Glory For A Transformed Life.”
In this context, God’s “glory” refers to His holy presence. A “transformed life” describes a deep, inward and outward change in a person’s nature and character. It is a shift away from following the ways of the world to aligning oneself with God’s purpose. Rooted in the renewing of the mind, it represents becoming a “new creation” where old habits are replaced by behaviours that reflect Christ. Essentially, when we experience God’s presence, we cannot remain the same.
The key lessons of our reflection are:
- We encounter God’s glory when we are willing to accept His direction and obey His commandments.
- Jesus is the physical embodiment of God’s glory; therefore, anyone who encounters Him will experience that glory and be changed.
1. Obedience as a Gateway to Glory
Firstly, God’s glory is manifested in our lives when we are willing to accept and obey His Word. In Exodus 24:12-18, Moses experienced the majesty of God when he followed the instruction to go up Mount Sinai to receive the Law. The Bible tells us, “To the Israelites, the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain” (Exodus 24:17). To experience this today, we do not need to climb a physical mountain, but we must have a heart that is zealous and willing to follow the Lord’s direction.
2. Jesus: The Fullness of God’s Glory
Secondly, we no longer look to distant mountain tops to see God. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s glory. He is the one who fulfilled both the Law and the Prophecies. During the Transfiguration, God re-emphasised the divinity and supremacy of Jesus as the only path to salvation and a transformed life.
Jesus is the final revelation of God. He transcends the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah). They are no longer the ultimate standard; rather, they find their total fulfilment in Him. Jesus Himself said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them” (Matthew 5:17).
Because He is the perfect example, God commanded: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5). The Apostle Peter, who was an eyewitness to this event, later encouraged persecuted Christians by testifying, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18).
To live a transformed life, we must welcome Jesus into our hearts and listen to His voice. He assures us in John 14:6-7: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Once we encounter this glory, our lives must become a living testimony. Paul, who was radically changed on the road to Damascus, wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). He further reminds us that “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Finally, Paul explains how we demonstrate this transformation: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
CONCLUSION
To encounter God’s glory is to be permanently altered by His presence. We have seen that this encounter begins with a heart of obedience, as shown by Moses, and reaches its perfection in the person of Jesus Christ. We do not just admire the glory from a distance; we are called to reflect it. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the “old self” passes away, and we begin a journey of total transformation, guided by His Spirit and His Word.
CALL TO ACTION
Today, I challenge you to stop trying to change yourself through your own strength. Instead, surrender your will to Christ.
- Listen to Him: Spend time in His Word daily.
- Obey Him: Act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
- Reflect Him: Ask yourself if your daily habits and speech show that “the old has gone and the new is here.”Decide today to move away from the patterns of this world and climb the “spiritual mountain” of prayer and devotion to meet the Lord.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the revelation of Your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. We ask that You forgive us for the times we have conformed to the patterns of this world. Lord, touch our hearts and renew our minds today. May Your presence be like a consuming fire within us, burning away old habits and refining our character. Help us to be obedient to Your Word and to live as “new creations” that bring honour to Your name. Transform us, so that our lives may reflect Your light to a dark world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
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