7 Portraits in Prayer, Day 14: Morning

Week 2, Radiant Prayer, Day 7: Revealed In Jesus

(Read Matthew 16:28-17:13)

 

Spiritual Transformation -- The word “transfigure” in the Greek is metamorphoō, which means 1) to change into another form, 2) to transform. It is like what happens to a caterpillar when it changes into a butterfly. It is a spiritual transformation. When the face of Moses was transfigured by God’s presence, the people asked to not see it. In prayer, however, we are to look at the glory of the Lord. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord,” (2 Corinthians 3:18). God’s transformational Spirit lives miraculously within us, changing from our glory in Him to His glory in us. His Holy Spirit lives within us and spiritually radiates outwardly as a result of our transformation, our metamorphosis.

     God’s word reveals to us that Jesus was no ordinary man. He is greater than Abraham (John 8:53), greater than Jacob (John 4:12), greater than Jonah, Solomon, (Matthew 12:41–42), and greater than Moses and Elijah, with whom Peter wished to remain. Instead, a cloud descended, and the disciples trembled, falling on their faces. Jesus touched them, saying “Arise, do not be afraid.” They looked up and saw only Him. The message of the Transfiguration is that Jesus is God’s “beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” We must listen to what He says and also do it. Deuteronomy 8:15-18 foretold a “Prophet” like Moses would arise and that the people should listen to Him. The early church understood that Jesus fulfilled this (Acts 3:22, 7:37).

     Matthew 17:9 stated that the inner three of Jesus’s disciples were instructed not to speak of this until after Christ rose from the dead.

     Why? There are times we are given a revelation, a vision from Heaven, and time is needed for us to truly understand it. The gospel of Mark records the disciples did not even understand what Jesus meant in saying, “rise from the dead.” Elijah suffered. John the Baptist suffered, even to the point where he questioned if Jesus was indeed the One they had been awaiting. Jesus suffered. And eventually, so did the disciples.

     Transcendence from Heaven to Earth transforms us inwardly in being born again. Transformation will transfigure us in sanctification. Sanctification will one day bring us to glorification into the image of Christ. We need not wait until we fully comprehend all that Christ calls us to do. The Transfiguration shows us that we shine the brightest when we go to God in prayer and respond to His Son in obedience.

Pray this prayer to God: “Lord, You called me to follow You. I deny all that the world has to offer. Help me to pray to You as a glimpse of Heaven to encourage me to live for You on Earth. I will listen to You, and I pledge to follow You. Amen.”

Click here for Day 14, Evening.