Honor the Hungry Day 7: Bold

Because of Christ, the veil of death, fading glory and condemnation is removed. Because of the Spirit, we have new life, freedom and are transformed. So, we can be bold, with confidence. We can love the unloved, the lost and the hungry with all our heart. We can step out of our routine and know that this is significant. We can reflect God back to them and know that, if their ears are open, they will hear Him.

7 The old way, etched in stone, led to death and fading glory. 8 The new way, etched in Spirit, gives life and far greater glory. 9 The old way, which brought condemnation, was replaced by a more glorious new way, which makes us righteous in God’s eyes and is forever.

12 Therefore, having confidence, we can be very bold.

13 We are not like Moses, who veiled his face in front of the people to cover the fading away of God’s glory. 14 Their minds were hardened, and even today, the same veil remains unlifted. 16 But whenever someone believes in Christ, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So we, with that veil removed, can see and reflect, as a mirror does, the glory of the Lord. And the Lord, who is the Spirit, makes us more and more like Him as we are transformed into His glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3: 7-9, 12-14, 16-18

Our modern day understanding of glory and boldness seems to limit itself to the football field, the basketball court or maybe a field of battle in our parent’s time! But the concepts of fame, face, celebrity, megastar, VIP, and the rich and famous have an expanded meaning in today’s world. These people have a confidence in who they are and they act boldly. Not always what we think of as right, but boldly nevertheless.

So how does spiritual glory, the glory of the Lord, give us boldness? In Hebrew, khabod, means a weighty importance, but its usage in the Old Testament most often refers to the brightness and majesty of His presence. The Greek word, doxa, means good opinion, and is translated to mean praiseworthy, as well as a manifestation of God’s splendor and light when referring to Old Testament ideas. In the 2 Corinthians passage above, doxa is used twelve times. My summary takes out the repetition of ideas and still includes the word glory six times. So this is a good passage to examine its meaning!

7 fading glory: after Moses met with God, his face was lit up with glory

8 greater glory: the glory of the Spirit is based on power not light

9 more glorious way: based on Christ’s eternal righteousness not light

13 fading glory: Moses veiled his face to hide the fading of God’s light

18 glory of the Lord: God’s light that we reflect which never fades

18 His glorious image: the Spirit helps us become more like Christ and reflect His righteous image

Before Christ, God’s glory was a visible manifestation of His righteousness and purity. Moses reflected this, but it faded. After Christ, we have Holy Spirit to implant Christ’s righteousness in us, to transform us and to enlighten us. This glorious light will never fade. Verse 12 is our action verse. Therefore, let us be confident and bold!

What is one bold action to honor the hungry that you might take this week because you can be confident that it is His glory that is being reflected to others?

Glorious God, I am so humbled that You passed Your glory to Christ and He to me. Help me to open my heart and my life to others so that Your glory shines out. Light me up! Amen.