With Unveiled Faces

by Laura Springer, M.Div., Th.M.

“As we continually reflect the glory of the Lord, we are continually being transformed into the image of the one whose glory we are reflecting.”

Anthony A. Hoekema
Created in God's Image
Eerdmans, (C) 1986
p.24

Learning to “continually reflect the glory of the Lord” starts with our convictions. Convictions are often difficult to uncover, yet they are quite powerful.

• Convictions reside in the core of our person—our heart. Whether revealed or hidden, convictions determine our actions and attitudes.
• Convictions can be hidden from our consciousness, with hints and clues revealed in our unguarded moments. We can tease out their nature by looking at the thinking, feeling, and doing that coincide with our knee-jerk reactions.
• Convictions cannot be changed by direct action. We cannot awake one day and decide to hold a different conviction.
• Convictions are integrally connected to our habits of mind-body-emotion. We have trained ourselves to behave according to our convictions and their related actions and attitudes.
• Convictions are resistant to change; disciplined practice is required.

Developing new truth-conformed habits is a powerful way to change our convictions and bring them into conformity with the truth. Habits train us to behold the glory of the Lord.

“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.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

Resources

Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard
The Lost Virtue of Happiness, J. P. Moreland and Klaus Issler