Scripture
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light.

Observation
Jesus takes his followers up the mountain and in that place Jesus is transfigured. The glory of God shines out of him.

Moses and Elijah appear and God speaks from a cloud. The disciples are terrified but Jesus comes and touches them telling them not to be afraid.

On the way down the mountain Jesus tells them to not tell anyone about this until after the resurrection.

Application
James, Peter and John get a brief glimpse of the unveiled glory of Jesus. For a few minutes they see reality as it really is.

That happens to most of us at various times. We get a brief glimpse of the glory of God- perhaps through an answer to prayer, a powerful worship time, a dream or a vision. Then it's back to “normal.”

Like Peter, we tend to build memorials to the the experience. We might say “This is the way you must worship” or “That is the best place to find God.”

In doing so we let the power and the grace of such moments slip through our fingers, falling prey to legalism and religion.

Prayer
Father, thank you for the grace moments that remind us that you are really real and that we are really your children. Show us how to let those moments empower us rather than enslave us. Amen.