2 Corinthians 3:18
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
John 3:5-6
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Song of Solomon 2:4-5
“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.”
Reflection
There is a difference between knowing facts about God and truly encountering His glory, His face. Paul describes this encounter as something transformative: beholding the glory of the Lord with open face produces a progressive change, from glory to glory, until the very image we behold begins to form in us. It is not information accumulating in the mind, but a vision that transforms the heart and, over time, the very nature of the one who beholds it.
Jesus explained to Nicodemus that this kind of encounter requires a new birth, of water and the Spirit. It is not an achievement reached through religious effort or accumulated spiritual discipline; it is a work of grace that opens spiritual eyes to see what previously remained invisible. Once those eyes are opened and behold the beauty of the King, something changes irreversibly in the heart. The language of Song of Solomon captures this reality with an intensity that surprises many readers: “I am sick of love.” This is not an empty metaphor; it describes the genuine effect of having been touched by a love so pure, so beautiful, that everything else pales by comparison.
This is perhaps one of the most underestimated aspects of spiritual life: it is not primarily about correct doctrine, religious discipline, or ministry activity, but about an encounter that captivates the heart so thoroughly that nothing on earth can compete with that beauty. When someone has seen, even for a moment, the goodness and love flowing from the King’s face, they return to daily life with a completely different perspective. The things that once seemed bright—success, recognition, pleasure, possessions—lose their appeal compared to the beauty of what was beheld.
This is the true holy addiction: not an unhealthy dependency, but a deep longing that only God’s love can satisfy, and once experienced, redefines everything else.
Meditation for today
Have I had a genuine encounter with the glory and face of God, or do I only know information about Him?
What things in my life have lost their shine since I began beholding the beauty of the King, and which still unjustly compete for my heart?
Am I actively seeking that transformative encounter, or have I settled for a surface-level relationship with God?
Prayer
Father, I want to truly encounter Your glory, Your face. I will not settle for knowing about You; I long to see You, to behold You, to be transformed from glory to glory by that vision.
Open my spiritual eyes to see the beauty of the King in a way that completely captivates my heart. May Your love consume me so thoroughly that nothing on this earth can compete with Your beauty. Make me addicted to Your presence, Lord, so that when I return to my daily life, I live from the reality of having seen You. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Ana Méndez Ferrell