Changed by Worship

There is an interesting story in the Bible about Moses. Exodus 34:29-35 ²⁹When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. ³⁰When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³²Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. ³³When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.¹

Here we see Moses being effected by being in the Lord's presence. The Lord's glory washed over Moses and he came away from being with the Lord radiating the Lord's glory. It was so intense that the Israelites feared being near Moses and Moses finally adopted wearing a veil so as to not scare them.

In the New Testament the Apostle Paul writes: 2 Corinthians 3:13-18 ¹³We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. ¹⁴But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.²

As Christians we should be reflecting the Lord's glory as He transforms our lives. Being in His presence, worshiping Him, is in itself a transforming experience. You can not be around the Lord for very long without being changed by Him.

¹ Exodus 34:29-35, NIV.
² 2 Corinthians 3:13-18, NIV.