MAKEOVER

devotional for Sunday, 2/19/12

Have you ever wished that you were one of those women picked at random to have a free make-over? Sometimes we get tired of doing the same old thing with our hair and makeup but don't know what else to do with them. Or we feel as though we are showing our age, not only by the changes in our skin but also by our outdated hairstyle. We wish for the makeover to make us look younger or the wave of a magic wand that will transform our appearance into that of a lovely model.

Our outward transformation is nothing compared to our inner renewal in the Spirit when we are baptized into the family of Christ. God gives us the gift of his Spirit to sanctify our lives. When Christ himself was baptized he was set apart and equipped for his work as the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the Father spoke:

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 NIV

There is another place in the Bible where God the Father speaks these words which echo from the Old Testament prophecies - He says them again when Jesus is transfigured on a mountain as he nears the end of his life on earth:

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:1-5 NIV

The Lord's transfiguration is much more than an external "make-over" where his clothes became white and his face radiant. It is even more than the internal transformation of baptism where the gift of the Spirit is bestowed. Jesus is transfigured to show that he is both man AND God. Also, the presence of Moses and Elijah shows that Jesus fulfills both the Law and the Prophecies from the Old Testament times. What a most glorious event for the three chosen disciples who had such a close relationship with Jesus! And since we are children of God, we also share in that close relationship and the glory of the Lord. Our old selves are put off and we are "made new" - a true transformational "makeover"!

written by Jan Andersen