Lessons for Young Women, 1 of 3 - Steeping in His Glory

Lessons for Young Women, 1 of 3 
Steeping in His Glory - 
Changed by Beholding Him
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Created January 24, 2014. Revised February 2021
This writing can be used with the Lessons for Young Women, 2 of 3 (The Tea Party and 3 of 3 (The King's Daughter - what should she wear?)

Keziah
It was my friend Keziah’s 11^th birthday, and we were sipping tea. I intended to teach her what it meant to steep in the Lord just as we were steeping our tea bags. So, I asked her what she thought the word steep meant. Before I could teach her, she replied, “Steeping is like when you spend time with Jesus.” What a smile that brought to my face!

Later I scanned the pages of Scripture in my mind to find a verse that reflected the concept of steeping. I thought of John 15, but abiding was different than steeping. Then, I remembered Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God,” but being still and knowing were different than steeping. John 17:22-23 came to mind – beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous truths, but being one with Jesus was different than steeping. I left my pursuit alone for a while and then, there it was – 2 Corinthians 3:18! I will start with Verse 16.

“... but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. So then with unveiled faces, we behold the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, and we are being transformed into the same image with increasing glory; this is from the Lord Who is the Spirit.”

In Verse 3:7 from 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes that the glory on Moses’ face was so bright after his 40 days and 40 nights in the Lord’s presence at the top of Mount Sinai that the people could not look at him. They were afraid to come near the brightness. So, Moses put a veil over his face and took it off only when He was in God’s presence again.

Paul explains that we cannot see God’s glorious beauty because a veil lies over our hearts. But, when we turn to the Lord Jesus, the veil is taken away and we behold Him. By beholding Him, we are transformed into His image by the Holy Spirit. Just steeping in His presence changes us. This transformation equips us to love Him and fulfill His purposes.

Behold, the Lamb of God
John came from the wilderness immersing people in the Jordan River for repentance when Jesus approached the scene. John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” The Greek word for behold or lo means to observe, consider, listen and take in.

Behold Jesus, observe Him, consider His words and actions, listen to Him, take Him all in. Steep in Him. Your life will change without you even being aware.

How do we behold Him? How do we steep in His glory?  

• We behold Jesus in His Word
  Steep in His Word, the Bible. Write down what you learn about Jesus. Two good passages to start with are Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 and Philippians 2:5-11.
  
  
• We behold Jesus’ character reflected in His Creation
  • The Shepherd Psalmist King David wrote that even though we do not hear creation speaking, its sound has gone to the ends of the earth declaring God’s glory! (Psalm 19:1-6)
  • The Apostle Paul wrote, “For by Jesus all things were created both in the heavens and on earth...” (Colossians 1:16)
  • Jesus said that we should behold the lilies, that they had something to say about Him and His provision (Matthew 6:28-34). He talked about vines and branches, mustard seeds and pearls, sheep and harvest-time. He called Himself the Rose of Sharon, the Bright Morning Star. I think about Jesus when I breathe in the delicate scent of herbs in the garden or behold the vibrancy of petunias at dusk.
    
    
• We behold Jesus in each other
  The people of Samaria saw Jesus in the woman at the well after she had believed in Him. (John 4)
  I saw Jesus in a friend’s gentle words. I felt Jesus when a friend cared for me when I was sick.

• We behold Jesus in repentance
  We enjoy a flourishing relationship with the Lord as we allow His Word through the Holy Spirit to weed and prune us from hurtful ways. Let His words seep into your spirit, mind, emotions, and body, circumstances, and relationships. Then steep. Steep in the seeping. Just as hot water brings out the essence of the tea leaves, the Holy Spirit brings out the essence of His life in Us – the life He gave us when we were born again. Here are three verses that keep the weeds at bay.

• • Steep in Humility – Psalm 139:23-24
    Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
    I quietly give You my time to show me where I may have erred.
    

• • Steep in Trust – Philippians 3:15 in the context of the entire chapter
    Let as many of us as are perfect [fully mature, complete], have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you.
    Father, thank You that I can trust You to show me wrong attitudes as I receive Your life each day! I do not have to worry about a big mass of ugly weeds growing under the surface, because I trust You to show them to me as they pop up. Lead me in the everlasting way!
    

• • Steep in Transparency – 1 John 1:9
    If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    I praise You, Lord! Because you paid the penalty for my sin, I am free, not only from the penalty of my sin, but from its power! If you show me an anxious or hurtful way in me, I can confess it, and You will cleanse me according to Your promise in 1 John and restore my soul. Give me a humble heart and Your power to repent. Dig up the weeds by the root, so they do not reappear again, so that I can enjoy fellowship with You and others!
    

Father, thank You for transforming us into Your image as we behold you!

Shale Fragments™ - devotionals by Beth Ann Phifer is a division of Flower Girl Greetings, LLC. ©2020, All Rights Reserved.
Blessings and love in Him,
Beth Ann