DAY 33 FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

DAY 33

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up to a high mountain apart by themselves: He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them." (Mark 9:2.3 NKJV)

We all love fresh clothes to wear. I love the smell and the feeling of a fresh undershirt right out of the dryer. In reading Mark 9:2,3 on the transfiguration of Jesus several things come to mind.

a. They actually had launderers back in the first century. The word for launderer in the New Testament is "gnapheus". This word meant to "tease" or be a "fuller" of wringing out clothes. The people who were in this occupation were called "Fullers" and thus the origin of the last name "Fuller."

b. Jesus was "transfigured". Have we really ever stopped to take in the "fullness" of the word transfigured. The word for transfigured is "metamorphoo" which means to transform or change one's condition. Jesus transformed for a brief period into the holiness that is described in Isaiah 6, Revelation 20 and 1 Corinthians 15. His clothing, were perfectually pure and not soiled with anything that the earth could put on him.

c. When we fully see God, or when we approach Him for who he really is, how do we see Him.

James MacDonald in his book "Downpour" gives a realistic approach to how God is seen when he states:

"what happens when holiness really hits home in the human heart? . . . When God is recognized for the infinitely holy Being that He is, you don't stand around questioning His decisions, you run and hide . . . no one questions God."

In other words, God's is totally holy and we should revere Him in awe when we see His glory. God doesn't need for us to question why things happens. We need to always realize that he knows why things happen because he put everything in place.

I know that I approach God's glory when I really and truly worship Him. That is, when I don't worry about others or things but focus truly open Him. And as Isaiah did, I truly fall on my face and experience His glory. I don't think I will ever "see" Him as Isaiah did until the day I am in Heaven. But I KNOW I can experience His glory in my heart. I can sense the "transfiguration" and awesome power of God the way Peter, James and John did on that mountaintop.

You can too. Get away from the world for a brief few minutes. Ask God to purify your heart and to approach His throne. Be silent and kneel before Him in sincerity an with a pure heart. He will show up and HE WILL BE GLORIOUS. Just as putting on that clean, white undershirt is.

Daddy, we ask You to purify our hearts that we can experience Your glory today.

Your son,

Jody