Rise and Shine!

In 2 Corinthians 3, there is a beautiful section dealing with the glory of God. The word "glory" is used

of something that attracts praise, honor and esteem.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18
12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Have you ever felt the invisible veil that seems to drop down around fear, negativity and condemnation. Often I cannot feel that slippery dark intrusion as it falls, but when it starts to permeate the things around, I usually sense a foreboding and ask for God's help. It is then I can see the lifting and change in atmosphere very clearly. Joy!  The people in Exodus could not see spiritual things without the help of Moses. He reflected the glory of God to them in His face. In the New Testament the veil was torn down separating them personally from God's holiest inner workings, but some of them kept the veil over their hearts. They could not experience the joy and freedom of basking in God's glory.

verse 17: Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Our lives reflect the glory of the Lord as we believe and turn our face to God. The New Testament  describes a relationship with God that is open, full-faced and enduring(not fading away). Veils are completely torn down! There is no shame that darkens the joy of living in great freedom with the Father. As we live our lives in that freedom we reflect the love of the Father. In the morning when I get up, the first thing I do is open the curtains and blinds. I love the morning sun. When people see the love of the Father, it opens the blinds to their hearts and lets the glorious sonlight in! You don't have to ever shut them because it is light that never sets.