Transformative Journey: Becoming Like Christ Through Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through the Unveiling of Christ

When we turn to the Lord, the veil that once obscured our understanding is removed, and we begin to see God more clearly, being transformed into His image from one degree of glory to another. This transformation is not a one-time event but a continual process, as God reveals more of Himself to us as we seek Him. Each time we surrender a new area of our lives, God peels back another layer, inviting us deeper into His presence and likeness. The journey is ongoing, and as we behold Him, we are changed—sometimes in ways we do not expect, but always for our good and His glory. [32:29]

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV)
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to turn more fully toward Him, so that He might reveal more of Himself and transform you in that area?

Day 2: Trusting God’s Hidden Purposes

God sometimes hides things from us, not to withhold good, but because we are not yet ready to receive them. In His wisdom, He reveals truth and understanding in His perfect timing, always working for the good of those who love Him. Even when we do not understand why certain things are concealed or why we face unanswered questions, we can trust that God is orchestrating all things for our ultimate benefit and His glory. Our role is to trust Him, knowing that He is always at work behind the scenes, preparing us for what is to come. [34:01]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Is there something in your life right now that you don’t understand or wish God would reveal? How can you choose to trust His timing and wisdom today?

Day 3: Faith That Grows Through Obedience and Giving

Obedience in areas like giving often defies human logic, yet God calls us to trust Him even when it doesn’t make sense. As we step out in faith—whether in generosity, service, or any act of obedience—God removes more of the veil and shows us the miraculous ways He works. The act of giving is not about the amount, but about the heart and the willingness to trust God’s provision. Through faithful obedience, we experience transformation, peace that surpasses understanding, and a deeper relationship with God, even when we don’t see immediate results. [41:32]

Malachi 3:10 (ESV)
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Reflection: What is one step of obedience—perhaps in giving, serving, or another area—that feels uncomfortable or illogical to you? Will you trust God enough to take that step this week?

Day 4: Real Faith Requires Discomfort and Surrender

True transformation rarely happens in comfort; it is often in the uncomfortable places—when we step out of our routines, share our struggles, or kneel in humility—that God does His deepest work. Faith is not just a label or a set of beliefs, but a daily surrender that challenges us to grow, to let go of compromise, and to pursue holiness. When we allow ourselves to be stretched, pruned, and even made uncomfortable, we open ourselves to the kind of change that leads to lasting spiritual growth and deeper intimacy with God. [47:45]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Reflection: Where is God calling you to step out of your comfort zone for the sake of your spiritual growth? What practical action can you take today to embrace that discomfort and invite transformation?

Day 5: Communion and the Power of Christ’s Transforming Presence

Coming to the Lord’s Table is more than a ritual; it is an invitation to encounter the living Christ and receive His transforming power. In the act of communion, we remember Christ’s sacrifice, receive His grace, and open our hearts to healing and renewal. God desires to take our brokenness, our wounds, and even our failures, and use them as instruments of healing for others. As we humbly approach Him, asking for transformation, He is faithful to meet us, change us, and make us more like Jesus—sometimes in ways we cannot see, but always in ways that matter for eternity. [56:56]

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV)
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Reflection: As you approach communion or a time of prayer this week, what area of brokenness or need for healing will you bring to Jesus, trusting Him to transform it for His glory and your good?

Sermon Summary

Transformation is at the heart of the Christian journey. God’s desire is not to leave anyone as they are, but to continually shape and renew each life into the likeness of Christ. This process is not a one-time event, but an ongoing unveiling, as Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 3. Just as Moses’ face was veiled after encountering God, so too are there things in our lives and hearts that God reveals only as we are ready. Sometimes, God hides things from us—not to withhold good, but to protect us, to prepare us, and to draw us deeper into trust and faith. As we turn to the Lord, the veil is removed bit by bit, and we are transformed from one degree of glory to another.

Transformation is not about gaining more information or simply going through religious motions. It is about daily surrender, about allowing God to work in the uncomfortable places of our lives. Real faith is not always comfortable; it challenges us, stretches us, and calls us to trust God beyond our understanding. Whether it’s in the discipline of giving, the practice of prayer, or the act of reading Scripture, God uses these means to shape us—not just to teach us facts, but to change our hearts and our worldview.

This transformation is most evident when we step out of our comfort zones—when we come forward for prayer, when we kneel at the altar, when we receive Holy Communion. These acts are not just rituals; they are opportunities for God to meet us, to heal us, and to make us new. God delights in taking our brokenness, our wounds, and even our failures, and using them as instruments of healing for others. The journey is not always easy, and sometimes it involves pain or discomfort, but it is in these moments that God does His deepest work.

Ultimately, we become like what we worship. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, as we behold Him, we are changed into His image. This is God’s desire for each of us: that we would be transformed, not just for our own sake, but so that we might better reflect His love, His grace, and His truth to the world.

Key Takeaways

1. God Reveals as We Are Ready God does not reveal everything to us at once. He unveils truth and understanding in our lives as we are able to receive it, protecting us from what we are not yet ready to handle. This gradual unveiling is an act of love, drawing us deeper into trust and dependence on Him, rather than on our own understanding. [34:01]
2. Transformation Is Ongoing, Not One-Time The process of being changed into Christ’s image is continual—“from glory to glory.” It is not a single event at conversion, but a lifelong journey of surrender, obedience, and growth. Each time we turn to the Lord, another layer of the veil is removed, and we are invited to deeper transformation. [46:54]
3. Faith Requires Stepping into the Uncomfortable True faith is not about comfort or routine. It is about daily surrender, allowing God to challenge our assumptions, stretch our faith, and call us into places that may not make sense to our natural minds. Growth often happens in discomfort, just as a plant grows stronger when its roots are forced deeper. [48:40]
4. Obedience Precedes Understanding Often, God calls us to act before we fully understand. Whether it’s in giving, serving, or simply trusting Him in difficult circumstances, obedience opens the door for God to reveal more of Himself and His ways. The fruit of obedience is not always immediate understanding, but a transformed heart and a renewed mind. [41:32]
5. Worship and Community Are Catalysts for Change Transformation often happens in the context of worship and community—when we step out, come forward for prayer, or receive Holy Communion. These are not empty rituals, but sacred moments where God meets us, heals us, and empowers us to become agents of healing for others. Our willingness to be vulnerable and seek God together accelerates the work of transformation in our lives. [49:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Upcoming Barbecue & Testimony Invitation
[03:30] - Daily Devotional and Wake-Up Call
[07:10] - Five-Day Devotional Email
[13:59] - Opening Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
[25:42] - Worship Through Giving
[31:13] - Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 3
[32:29] - The Veil and God’s Hidden Things
[34:01] - Transformation in God’s Presence
[36:02] - Inoculation and Spiritual Growth
[38:01] - The Ongoing Unveiling
[40:10] - The Spiritual Discipline of Giving
[43:56] - Trusting God Beyond Understanding
[46:54] - Transformation: From Glory to Glory
[48:40] - Growth Through Discomfort
[49:44] - Transformation in Worship and Community
[53:03] - Communion: The Meal of Transformation
[56:56] - God Heals to Make Us Healers
[69:48] - Becoming Like What We Worship
[71:01] - Closing Prayer and Surrender

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (ESV) — 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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.

Observation Questions

According to Paul in 2 Corinthians 3, what happens when someone “turns to the Lord”?
What is the significance of the “veil” in the story of Moses, and how does Paul use this image to talk about transformation?
In the sermon, what are some specific ways the pastor describes God “hiding” things from us, and why does He do this? [[36:02]]
What are some examples given in the sermon of transformation happening during acts of worship or community, like prayer or Holy Communion? [[49:44]]

Interpretation Questions

Why might God choose to reveal things to us gradually, rather than all at once? How does this process help us grow in trust and faith? [[36:02]]
The sermon says transformation is not a one-time event but a continual process. What does it look like for someone to be “transformed from one degree of glory to another” in everyday life? [[46:54]]
The pastor mentions that real faith is often uncomfortable and challenges us. Why do you think discomfort is necessary for spiritual growth? [[48:40]]
How does participating in worship, prayer, or Communion act as a catalyst for transformation, according to the sermon? [[49:44]]

Application Questions

Can you think of a time when God revealed something to you only when you were ready for it? How did that experience affect your trust in Him? [[36:02]]
The sermon talks about daily surrender and letting God work in the “uncomfortable places” of our lives. Is there an area in your life right now where you sense God is inviting you to surrender or step out of your comfort zone? What would it look like to say “yes” to Him in that area? [[47:45]]
The pastor uses giving as an example of obedience that doesn’t always make sense logically. Is there a spiritual discipline (like giving, prayer, or reading Scripture) that you find challenging or confusing? What might it look like to obey God in that area before you fully understand? [[41:32]]
When was the last time you experienced transformation through a simple act of worship, prayer, or community? What happened, and how did it change you? [[49:44]]
The sermon says, “We become like what we worship.” What are you currently “beholding” or focusing on most in your life? How might shifting your focus to Jesus change you? [[01:09:48]]
The pastor mentions that God can use our brokenness and wounds to help heal others. Is there a part of your story or a struggle you’ve faced that God might want to use to encourage or help someone else? [[56:56]]
What is one practical step you can take this week to invite God’s transforming work in your life—whether it’s through prayer, worship, community, or an act of obedience? [[46:54]]

Sermon Clips

Christianity is not about you learning a set of facts and learning more information. And when you get all the right information, then somehow you've arrived. It's about trusting God, even though you don't have any information. And then getting to know a person. Not facts about him, but getting to know a person. Because as Paul says, when we are then face to face with God and that veil is removed and we're face to face in the way that Moses was face to face, then we start being transformed into the image of God. [00:44:44] (35 seconds) #MadeToReflectGod

See, in Genesis 1 .26, it says that we were made in the image of God made to grow into the likeness of God. You're made in the image of God. You know that. You're made to grow into his likeness. You're made to grow until you start to love like, until you start to behave like, until you start to view other people like he views them. Maybe the hardest one of all, until you start viewing yourself like God views you. [00:45:19] (36 seconds) #EverIncreasingTransformation

God doesn't want to leave us where we started. And the only way to truly respond to the goodness that God has poured into our lives is to allow that transformation to take place. Allow Him to make a new creation out of us, each and every day. [00:47:01] (20 seconds) #HeartOverRoutine

Because faith isn't just a label saying, I'm blessed. It's daily surrender, a call to holiness that challenges your flesh. Real faith makes you uncomfortable. That's why I say I share that analogy, because it's uncomfortable for people. Real faith makes you uncomfortable. Because real change always makes you uncomfortable. But that's where God does His best work, is when we're uncomfortable. [00:47:59] (33 seconds) #GrowthThroughDiscomfort

When we're comfortable, when we're in the place that we like, when everything is going our way, there is probably very little growth. Those of you that are gardeners know the best way to get a plant to grow. Make it uncomfortable. Pinch off some leaves. Break off a limb or two. Sometimes you have to put a bucket over the plant to make the roots go down more. Why didn't they just go down there anyway? Because it was comfortable doing what it was doing. It didn't know. A hurricane's going to come along here and snatch it out of the ground. But because you're wiser, and you know that tough days are coming, you want it to be more rooted. And so you're looking for it to grow. Sometimes those rougher situations, those seasons of darkness are necessary for us to grow. [00:48:32] (51 seconds) #ObedienceTransformsLives

If we resist His change, if we say, no, we don't want it, no, let me know all about that, I'll think about that later, and you just keep pushing that out of your mind, keep pushing that back to the back burner and just ignoring it, you're still transformed. The problem is now your heart's growing harder. That doesn't mean God can't reach you. It just means it's probably going to be a little bit more painful when He does. We do that enough, our hearts get hardened to where we can't be reached. Not in any way that we can understand as people. God can still break through anything. One way or another, we're transformed. Either into His image, till we start.to walk like and look like and talk like God? Love like He did? Or we're transformed by being hardened. I know for me, I know which one I want to choose. [00:52:18] (64 seconds) #WoundsBecomeHealing

The truth is, we always have and always will become like what we worship. Whether it be teenagers and a pop icon in the way it influences culture, or it be us turning our eyes upon Jesus, and we become more like Him through the act of worshiping and focusing on Him. [01:09:58] (21 seconds)

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