Thursday, July 20, 2017

unhardened minds...

II Corinthians 3:12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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.
We saw in chapter 2 that one of the big reasons church members have a hard time with one another is that some do not have "the mind of Christ." Paul goes on to say here that their minds are hardened; they cannot think-see spiritually, because they are not allowing the Spirit to soften their minds.  The last verse is the key: "we all" - not as individuals, but everyone having softened hearts and unhardened minds - together we are transformed.  When any of us hold back from this, we not only hinder our individual spiritual transformation, but that of the body as well.  Have you had a hard heart and mean mind toward others?

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