Becoming What We Behold

We are all in the process of becoming. No one remains neutral—every person on this earth is being shaped, either knowingly or unknowingly. Who we are today may not necessarily reflect who we will be tomorrow. Someone who appears successful today may find, years later, that the shine of that success has faded. The same holds true in our relationships—what feels like a deep and vibrant friendship today may cool over time. Our physical bodies tell a similar story; we may be carefree with what we consume, but the effects of our choices inevitably manifest over time. The same principle applies to our minds. What we regularly consume mentally—what we read, watch, or dwell on—begins to shape our worldview and influence how we interpret the events and challenges of life.

This truth has deep implications for the Christian. 2 Corinthians reveals a straightforward truth : "We become what we behold." "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." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The transformation Paul speaks of is not instantaneous, but gradual—and it is directly tied to our beholding of Christ. This is not a one-time event but a daily, subjective experience. Each time we choose to draw near to God in the secret place, each time we gaze upon Him in the Word, we are being inwardly transformed. His essence fills our being and His life reshapes our inner man. From one image to another, from glory to glory—we are being conformed to Christ. There’s a parallel here with the saying, "You are what you eat." For the believer, this is spiritually true: the more we eat and drink of Christ—through His Word, through prayer, through worship—the more we are constituted with His very life and nature. We begin to express Christ not just in belief, but in behaviour, in attitude, and in character.

What a glorious destiny awaits the Christian! What a precious reality Christ has secured for us through His death and resurrection—to be conformed to His image, to be saturated with His divine life and nature. This is what we are becoming: Just as He is, in life and in nature.

In this process, we are also brought into an organic union with the Triune God, and He grants us the privilege of expressing who He is through our daily walk on this earth. May this truth stir our hearts to daily behold the Lord of Glory, to feast abundantly on the bread of life, and to drink deeply of the living waters that flow from His Spirit. May we never lose our wonder at the transforming power of beholding Christ, for as we gaze upon Him, we are becoming like Him—expressing His very essence from within.

Enjoying the Resurrected Christ as the Life-Giving Spirit

So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45) 

What does the Resurrection mean for us today? Much is rightly said about how Jesus died for our sins, took upon Himself our punishment, reconciled us to God, and opened the way for us to enjoy eternal life with Him in heaven. All of this is gloriously true. But is there more? What is God’s deeper desire? How does He want His children to live out the reality of Christ’s resurrection?

In John 20, on the evening of the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And then, “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

In breathing on His disciples, Jesus was imparting Himself as the Spirit, entering into them in a way far more intimate than ever before—far deeper than even when He walked with them on the earth. He became one with their spirit. He had already said in John 15, “Abide in Me, and I in you.” But how could this be possible without His death, His resurrection, and His coming into them as the Spirit?

The Resurrected Christ initiated this divine union by dispensing Himself into them as the life-giving Spirit. What does it mean to have Christ as the the life-giving Spirit within us? It means that this Spirit imparts to us His life, His nature, all of His communicable attributes, and everything Christ accomplished and obtained for us through His death on the cross.

What a glorious reality this is! To know that the Spirit within us is the life-giving Spirit—filling us, saturating us, permeating us with all that Christ is—causing us to enjoy God in the very depths of our being! This indwelling leads to our transformation, making us like Christ in His life and nature.

Can this be our daily experience? Yes—if we simply exercise our spirit and call upon the name of the Lord, set our heart to feed upon Him through prayer & soaking in His Word, He will surely bring us into the reality of this divine experience. This is the Father’s heart—that we daily experience and enjoy this union.

This was the great longing of the apostle Paul, and it must be ours as well: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection.” (Philippians 3:10)

As we celebrate the Resurrection today, may the Lord bring us into the living, daily reality of this glorious enjoyment of Christ as the Life-giving Spirit.

Bountiful Supply in a Dark Cell – Paul’s Secret to Joy

“For I know that this will turn out for my salvation through your prayers and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:19

When I read Paul’s phrase “bountiful supply” in Philippians, I can’t help but pause and ask—Where exactly was Paul when he wrote this? The expression almost sounds like it came from someone sitting in a palace. But in reality, Paul was writing from a dark, damp Roman prison.

How could someone in such a place speak of abundance? Where did Paul gain the assurance of such a rich supply of the Spirit?

Here is Paul, locked away in a cell under the weight of the Roman empire, and yet fully enjoying and experiencing Christ. While physically isolated and insulated from the world, he receives a profound revelation: “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

Paul had become increasingly aware that the Lord’s Spirit had been mingled with his own. In this divine union, deep within his regenerated spirit, he discovers the unshakable, overflowing supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And this supply isn’t just present; it’s active and dynamic. It flowed into every part of his being—his mind, emotions, and will—saturating him with divine life and drawing him into deeper fellowship and enjoyment of Christ.

Dear Christian friend, are you in a place like Paul’s? Imprisoned by circumstance? Isolated, misunderstood, rejected, belittled, or perhaps excluded? Are you surrounded by darkness, discouragement, or despair? Be encouraged! Within you is the same bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Lord longs for us to turn inward, to exercise our spirit, and to partake of this rich supply—not just for our survival, but for our enjoyment and for the expression of Christ to others.

Are we willing to lay hold of this? Like David, Paul encouraged himself in the Lord. But there was something more significant in Paul's walk with God. He dwelt in the inward parts of Christ (Phil 1:8)  which means he became familiar with Christ’s thoughts, His feelings, and His desires. He developed an intimacy with the indwelling Christ born from deep fellowship and a continuous drawing from the Spirit’s supply.

May the Lord grant us grace to experience the fullness of His person within, and to live each day out of this bountiful supply that never runs dry.

Let’s Linger No Longer!

But he lingered… So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand—the LORD being merciful to him. (Genesis 19:16)

We all know the story of Lot. He chose to live in a city steeped in wickedness, and though God warned him of its impending destruction, he hesitated. He lingered—even when judgment was near. It took the mercy of God for the messengers to literally take him and his family by the hand and lead them out.

Could that be our story too?

How often have we felt a gentle tug in our spirit, urging us to walk away from things that are worldly, harmful, or spiritually draining—but we lingered? How many times have we sensed the Lord calling us into deeper prayer, intimacy, and time in His Word, but remained in a place of passivity or distraction?

There are times when we know what we need to do—to stop conforming to the patterns of the world and allow God to renew our minds and pour out His grace—but still, we delay. And sometimes, delay carries a cost. Lot’s wife looked back—and that one moment of hesitation turned into her undoing. She never got another chance.

Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, our Heavenly Father waits patiently—longing for us to return. Will we continue feeding on the empty "carob pods" of the world, or will we rise up, shake off the dust, and say, “Lord, I’m done lingering. I’m coming home to You”

One phrase in this passage stands out: “the LORD being merciful to him.”

It wasn’t Lot’s wisdom or strength that saved him—it was the sheer mercy of God. And that same mercy is available to us today. He is full of compassion, abounding in patience, and always ready to lift us out of any pit—if we are simply willing.

So let’s not linger any longer. Let’s run to the cross. Let’s return to prayer, return to His Word, and ask Him to restore the joy of our salvation. Let’s fall into the arms of our merciful Savior and make a firm decision to walk away from the distractions of this world and into the fullness of God’s purpose for us.

No more delay. No more hesitation.

Let’s linger no longer.

When Christ Becomes Your Portion in the Wilderness

There is often a profound sense of loneliness that overwhelms the Christian whose heart is set on seeking God and surrendering fully to His purpose. While others bask in the joys of good times and entertainment, this one walks through the shadows of solitude. Before him lies a dark night that his soul must press through, and behind him is the world whose riches no longer entice him.

He longs for understanding but finds none. He seeks assurance from others, but no one is in sight. Christ alone becomes his hope, and on His gentle shoulder, the weary Christian leans. With eyes of faith, he gazes into the darkness, for beyond it, he sees a glorious light that those who walk by sight cannot perceive. The journey is exhausting, and at times, he feels on the verge of giving up. Yet, he is compelled to press on by the tender hand of the Good Shepherd and the watchful eye of his Heavenly Father.

In the barren wilderness, a table is set before him. Here, he begins to experience Christ as his life supply. A rich feast is laid out, and he is encouraged to eat and drink of Christ, who has become his portion in the midst of darkness and desolation. This experience not only empties him of self but also leads him to a deeper enjoyment of Christ as the life-giving Spirit within him. His inner man is strengthened, enabling him to deeply apprehend the immeasurable love of Christ.

Drawn nearer to the Father, who dwells in love and light, he finds that all the Father is and has is being worked into his being. Finally, just as Gideon was instructed to go forth in the strength he had, this believer is also commissioned to strengthen the weak and offer hope to the hopeless. And through it all, he is never truly alone, for the Lord remains his sun and shield, guarding his path and illuminating his way.

You Are the Sweet Fragrance of Christ to God

For we are the fragrance of Christ to God... (2 Corinthians 2:15)

We often find ourselves drawn to those who wear a pleasant perfume. But have you ever considered how God feels when we approach Him? This verse clearly states that we are to God the very fragrance of Christ.

In Hebrews 4:16, we are encouraged to approach the throne of grace with boldness. Why? Because the One who sits on the throne takes delight in our coming to Him. But what makes us so pleasing to God? On our own, we have no merit before this Holy and Awesome God. However, the Bible tells us that God has united us with Christ. Everything Christ is and all He accomplished through His death and resurrection has been credited to us.

This reminds me of Noah, a righteous man, who offered a sacrifice to God after the flood (Genesis 8:20). The Lord was pleased with the sweet aroma. Noah's sacrifice was merely a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate sacrifice for us .How much more fragrant is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ! There is no sweeter aroma to God than Christ, who became the perfect sacrifice for us on the cross.

Dear Christian, let this truth be the capstone of your daily life. Others may judge you based on your actions and achievements, but to God, your Heavenly Father, you are a sweet-smelling fragrance that brings Him great delight. Are you fully secure in this truth, or do you feel discouraged when your life seems less significant than others'? We must be grounded in our identity in Christ, not in our accomplishments.

Remember, whenever God smells a sweet fragrance, a blessing follows. After God was pleased with Noah's offering, He blessed him. Today, God blesses us by dispensing in us His very life and nature. He has given us His Spirit to dwell within us, providing a continual life supply and saturating us with Christ in every part of our being. What a blessing it is to have all that Christ is, fully imparted into us. God delights in giving Himself to us for our enjoyment. Because we are the sweet fragrance of Christ to God, may this truth give us the confidence to draw near to Him always and continually pursue a deeper walk with Him.

The Inward Life God Desires

As we journey on in the Christian life, have we ever considered what God truly desires? Have we reflected on the possibility that what we deem important may not hold the same significance in His eyes? Our Christian life can often be filled with outward activities and busyness, yet we may overlook the deeper, inward aspect of our walk with Him. It is easy to justify our spiritual efforts by focusing on external works, but God's focus is always on our inner life.

In Ephesians 3:16, Paul prays that the Ephesian believers would be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit in their inner being. Similarly, Psalm 51:6 reveals that God desires truth in our innermost parts. But what truth is being referred to here? Since God Himself is the embodiment of truth, this truth speaks of the reality of God within us. His desire is to impart His life and nature into us, shaping us into the image of His Son. Through His Spirit,  He continually dispenses Himself into us so that we may experience the reality of His very essence within our being.

As we engage in spiritual disciplines—such as personal prayer, studying His Word, and Godly fellowship—we open ourselves to this divine infusion. If this is what God desires, it should become our desire as well. However, His work within us does not stop here. As we experience more of Him, His unsearchable riches begin to shape our character, producing divine virtues within us. This inward reality then manifests outwardly, enabling us to be vessels of His grace to others.

May we, as God’s redeemed people, continually receive His life within us, allowing His presence to saturate our entire being. As a result, we will bear much fruit for His glory, faithfully serving in His kingdom.