"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." (2 Cor. 3:18).

Posted : 18 Sep, 2011 07:04 AM

Devotional



Is your knowledge of God a transforming knowledge? Have you become so acquainted with God as to receive the imprint (as it were) of what God is like?



You see, a true knowledge of God is a transforming knowledge. As I look upon the glory of God I am changed into that glory. And as my acquaintance with God deepens, I become more like God. There is a transfer of God's moral image to my soul.



Accordingly, examine yourself. Is your knowledge transforming? Does your acquaintance with God make you more like God�more holy, more heavenly, more spiritual? Does it prompt you to long for conformity to God's mind, to desire in all things to walk so as to please God, and to have (as it were) a transfer of the nature of God to your soul? Therefore, examine your professed acquaintance with God. Is yours that genuine knowledge that will bring you to heaven and will go on increasing through the countless ages of eternity?



If it is, know that even God's saints can trace the cause of much of our inconsistent walking, of our scant holiness, and consequently, of our meager happiness, to our limited acquaintance with God. If I knew more of what God is to me in Christ�how much he loves me, what a deep interest he takes in all my concerns�if I knew that he never looks away from me for one moment, that his heart of love never grows cold�oh! if only I knew this, would I not walk more as one acquainted with God? Would I not yearn to consult him in everything that concerns me, to acknowledge him in all my ways, to look up to him in all things, and to deal with him in all matters? Would I not long to be more like him�more holy, more Christ-like?



Yes, beloved. It is because we know God so little that we walk so inconsistently. We consult man rather than the living God. We flee for refuge to a creature rather than to the bosom of our Creator and Father. We seek the sympathy of man rather than the sympathy of God in Christ. Why? Because we are so imperfectly acquainted with God.



But if I knew more clearly what God is to me in the Son of his love, I should say that I never have a trial except I may take that trial to my Father. I am never in a perplexity except I may go to God for counsel. I never have a difficulty or a need except that it is my privilege to spread it before my Father. I may ever unveil my heart�of sin, of wretchedness, of poverty�to the One who has unveiled his heart�of love, of grace, of tenderness�to me in Christ. As I become more acquainted with God, my character and my Christian walk will become more consistent, more circumspect, more holy, and consequently more happy.

by Octavius Winslow, 1856 (edited for

today's reader by Larry E. Wilson, 2010)





Love Divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heav'n, to earth come down:

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown:

Jesus, thou art all compassion,

pure, unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation,

enter ev'ry trembling heart.



Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit

into ev'ry troubled breast;

let us all in thee inherit,

let us find the promised rest:

take away the love of sinning;

Alpha and Omega be;

End of faith, as its Beginning,

set our hearts at liberty.



Come, Almighty to deliver,

let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never,

never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.



Finish, then, thy new creation;

pure and spotless let us be:

let us see thy great salvation

perfectly restored in thee;

changed from glory into glory,

till in heav'n we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

lost in wonder, love and praise.



(Charles Wesley, 1747; st. 2, lines 4, 5 alt.)

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