2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NIV)

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplatethe Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Reflection:

In the movie Kung Fu Panda, clumsy and immature Po is unwittingly chosen to be the legendary Dragon Warrior, the one Kung Fu master who is worthy and capable of defeating the people’s greatest nemesis. But the mere declaration of who Po truly is only the beginning. His transformation is not just a one time event, but a process of change that is more fully realized as he lives out the daily life of a warrior.

As people who have been freed to now live like Christ, perhaps we find ourselves incapable and lacking. Today’s verse, however, speaks to the continual ministry of the Holy Spirit who leads us to the fuller realization of becoming like Christ. The Spirit of the Lord brings freedom - freedom to be like Christ, to love like Christ, and to follow him towards the cross.

Response:

The transforming work of the Holy Spirit is not just a one time event, but a life direction that we have been set free to live. We are now free to be like Jesus who had a single minded heart trajectory toward the cross. Today let’s pray that the church would be open in greater measure to the ministry of the Holy Spirit who continually leads us to live this life of Christ. Let’s pray that we would be set free from our old lives, our doubts, and our “inability.” Let’s pray that the areas of our hearts that are resistant would “turn to the Lord.” May we receive the filling of the Spirit to empower us to love and minister like Jesus.