We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
   - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Here we have set before us, as the Object of our contemplation, our blessed Lord where He now is in the glory of God.

There is nothing between, no shade of distance, no veil, nothing to obscure our vision of Him. There He is: very God, we know, yet a real Man in the glory of God. In His face the glory of God shines (see 2 Corinthians 4:6).

Well may we gaze on Him! He is the most glorious Person in the universe of God! The glory of God is the only place that is suited for Him, and He is the only One who is worthy to fill that place.

We look on Him until our souls are lost in the adoring contemplation of Him. We forget ourselves; for the time being, we get away even from the thought of our own blessing. He Himself, His glory, and His beauty captivate our souls. As we continue to look, we fall at His feet in worship.

All of that is objective. Now, see the result.

As we look, we are "transformed into the same image." Without any effort on our part, without being conscious of it, we become like the One with whom we are occupied as an Object outside ourselves. Thus, we ourselves become the subject of God's work; and there is of necessity produced a very remarkable effect in us. All of that is subjective.

(Now observe, it is the objective that produces the subjective, and let us be careful not to reverse that order.)

John T. Mawson