Listen

About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes flashed white like lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him. They were clothed with heavenly splendor and spoke about Jesus’ departure, which he would achieve in Jerusalem. Peter and those with him were almost overcome by sleep, but they managed to stay awake and saw his glory as well as the two men with him.

Luke 9:28-32

Think

Reality TV programming has helped us to know some things. Some examples: Reality isn’t always real. Not everyone can sing. And some things can’t be unseen.

We think of this last one normally when seeing people in the worst way, capturing epic fails or the cringe-worthy moments of people’s lives. Sometimes, though, God provides glimpses of glory we don’t want to forget.

This happened with Peter, James, and John when they went with Jesus up a mountain to pray. While Jesus prayed, Old Testament figures Moses and Elijah appeared with him and, then, Jesus was changed. His appearance, clothes, his person, were changed. Luke tells us they didn’t immediately tell anyone what happened on the mountain. Maybe no one would have believed.

This moment, though, this glimpse of God’s glory, it all happened during prayer. They went on the mountain to pray. The figures appeared and Jesus changed as he prayed. It is definitely not expected that figures will appear or our clothes will change when we pray, but we should expect that something can happen when we spend time with God in prayer.

Byron Vance

Pray

God of all creation, I may not often be ready to see or hear from your glory. My mind is cluttered and my heart is damaged.

Hear my prayers, Lord, that you will show your glory while I wait and watch for you.

Amen.

Go

Go into this day

with all your senses tuned

to experience glimpses of God’s glory

in your every day.