2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (AMP) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

I was talking to the Lord about His many attributes. When I think of this above verse, I often think of Moses and the time he spent with God. Moses asked to see the glory of God (Exodus 33:18), “Show me your glory.” What was our Father’s answer, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion (lovingkindness) on whom I will show compassion (Exodus 33:19).” Other translations use mercy where it says compassion here. This I know the attributes that God showed Moses (the glory) were His grace and mercy (compassion). God is rich in love.

So if I am progressively being transformed into His image, from glory to glory, am I matching these attributes. Have I become rich in mercy and grace? Do I have compassion? When I accepted Christ, my spirit man became alive, the power of Christ now dwells in me. I am free from bondage. Can I put myself back under bondage? If I live according to an unrenewed my mind, will and emotions, I can.

Galatians 5:1 (AMP) It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

My mind, will and emotions (soul) are separate from my made new spirit man (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are spirit beings that have a soul and live in a body. The only one perfect in compassion that walked this earth was Jesus. That does not mean we cannot have these attributes.

Galatians 5:13-14 (AMP) For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another. For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”

Your new found freedom should be reflected in your love walk. Ask ourselves, ‘who is the beneficiary’? Let’s start with things that do not reflect love:

Galatians 5:19-21 (AMP) Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

These are areas that we have to work out of ourselves. We have to make a conscious decision to not reflect that behavior anymore. Why do I say anymore? The sinful nature is what we have been freed from. How? Through His grace we have been empowered to overcome such. That does not mean it has been omitted from our lives, it means that we have the power to come against it. We can choose love instead. We can choose to walk in the freedom that His love gives. Those have their own attributes:

Galatians 5:22-26 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

If I claim to live new and in the Holy Spirit, then I need to reflect that change. There is a warning, our flesh still lives so we must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another. This is something we can still become. This is the bondage that Paul warns about. We can become self-righteous. We can judge one another in saying we are doing better than the other. We can have factions of separation in the body of Christ due to perceived maturity (head knowledge only). Real maturity in Christ does not do this. Christ warns us:

Luke 6:37-38 (AMP) Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change]. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”

I have to recognize that this is a pattern of the flesh, the bondage that I have been set free from. I want to be better than that. The Bible also tells us to judge by our fruits (Matthew 7:15-20). That is true. For what purpose? Can we help with the restoration? Most of the time we like to write people off, but the Word only tells us to separate if there is no repentance and they are trying to pull others to the side of bondage (2 Timothy 3:5).

Galatians 6:1-5 (AMP) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]. For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself. But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another. For every person will have to bear [with patience] his own burden [of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible].

I know this is a lot of scripture today, but bear with me. Sin is anything that is described in Galatians 5:19-22, to include: hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy. It is not just the outward things we see. These have to do with our mind, will and emotions. These are areas that I still have allow the Holy Spirit to work out of me. I also need to the body of Christ to help with them as well. It is the times of serving together with others and getting to know people that I can measure up to what I am reflecting. We are a family of believers.

Have you ever scheduled a family photo with a professional photographer? We have. We will pick a location and all dress to match each other. If the majority wore jeans and a button up shirt and one showed up in shorts and an old t-shirt, would you say they matched and looked like they were a part of the family? Probably not. You would probably think they were the so called ‘black sheep’ of the family (the one that does not care about wanting to be a part of the group). We all have those in our own families. Thankfully, my boys have always been agreeable to the matching family photo.

That is what I think about when we grow glory to glory. Am I matching my Father? Am I walking in the love that He gave me? Am I walking in the fruits of the Spirit? Am I looking for what benefits others, rather than what benefits me? When I have fits of anger or envy and jealousy creeps in, can I say that is not what i want to reflect? I have had to go and apologize for comments made against someone. I told them, ‘I am sorry, that that is not who I want to be’. I wanted to be better than that. I want to match the attributes of my Father. Forgiveness is another aspect of who He is. We are called Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Who am I presenting as a follower of Christ? Do we match?

Our Father, Holy is Your Name. Holy, Holy, Holy are You, God. You are our Maker, our Provider and our Banner. You are more than enough. Thank You for Your Son to be the sacrifice for us. Thank You for the Holy Spirit that has empowered us to overcome the bondage of sin. Thank You for Your Word and the revelation through that Word, to know what we have been set free from. We repent for times of not listening to the Holy Spirit and depending our mind, will and emotions to lead us. We want to be renewed in You daily. We want the mind of Christ that You promised us. We want to reflect Your glory that we were created in. We cast down any vain imagination that has tried to exalt itself above Your knowledge. We desire the fruits of the Spirit to operate in our lives, the first being the unselfish love that You gave us. We do not want to give into the areas of strife, envy and jealousy, as they do not reflect Your glory. We do not want to hold onto bitterness anymore. We choose freedom today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose joy today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.