2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit. AMP

I appreciate the Amplified Version of this scripture more than the others. I like the thought process of continually and progressively being changed. I woke up this morning thinking, “I have changed.” Correction soon followed. I cannot make myself more Christ like. While the process of transformation requires me to follow a recipe, I can no more take credit for that transformation than the cake can because it was baked.

First instruction in the opening verse is seeing with unveiled face. The veil which obscures our clear vision of the Lord is our flesh. Yes our flesh.

Hebrews 10:20,22 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Consecrated, set aside, through the veil, flesh, is a clear instruction for us not to allow our flesh to obscure our vision. A clear vision of who Christ is can only be seen be setting our flesh aside. Consecration only creates better vision, it does not change us.

Secondly, that added word, continually, is an encouragement to continue to see the Lord in a new light. Do not assume that just because you saw the Lord in scripture that you have discovered all He is in that moment.

Third, progressively is the next new word added which distinguishes change as a buildup, layer upon layer, not undermining what has been laid before, but built upon.

Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Lastly, it is the Lord that changes us, and not we ourselves.

Isaiah 17:10-12 Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips: In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow. Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

The first words of warning are key here. Forgotten is not forsaken. You can forget without going into outright rebellion. This is a clear warning about what you plant in your forgetfulness. It might not be much more than a thought planted in your mind. In doing so, did you not know that seed would grow, take root and produce grief and sorrow?

James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Can you see it? Conception, growth, fruit, and the undesirable end. The conception more often comes from forgetfulness than outright desire.

Deuteronomy 32:37-39 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

Do not get lost in your forgetfulness.