2-15-26 “When God’s Glory Changes How We See” – (Stewards of God’s Grace #3)

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“When God’s Glory Changes How We See”

(Stewards of God’s Grace #3)

 

I want to start with something funny that I found an internet site: A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, “Boys and girls, what do we know about God?” A hand shot up in the air. “He is an artist!” said the kindergarten boy. “Really? How do you know?” the teacher asked.
“You know we pray– Our Father, who does art in Heaven… ”

We often begin our prayers with “Heavenly Father.” But this doesn’t mean God the Father dwells only in heaven. When we pray to “Our Father in heaven,” we are reminded that God is both holy and all-powerful, yet intimately close to us. Heaven is not just a place above—it is a symbol of His perfect rule and loving presence in our lives. In other words, God the Father is present everywhere.

You know how some mornings, before your first cup of coffee, everything looks blurry and confusing? I am a coffee drinker. Every morning, I have a cup to wake up my mind and body, and late at night, I have a cup to calm my mind and body so I can be ready for sleep. Perhaps the disciples felt a bit like that on the mountain—except instead of caffeine, they needed the clarity of God’s glory to see what was really happening.

Today, we gather on this Transfiguration Sunday to hear the story of Jesus shining in glory on the mountaintop. Picture it with me: Peter, James, and John climbing the mountain with Jesus. They are tired, perhaps weighed down by worries and the ordinary routines of ministry. Maybe they were still thinking about Jesus’ earlier words about his death, suffering, and resurrection, or about their next schedule—what towns they would visit, whom they would heal, and how they would share the Good News. It’s like when we are in worship, our minds can still wander to our next schedule or concerns about our family.

When they finally reach the mountaintop, they begin to pray. And then it happens—Jesus’ face shines, his clothes gleam bright white, and suddenly everything they thought they knew is bathed in God’s light. Mountaintop moments are like this: moments when God’s presence becomes undeniable, when clarity breaks through confusion, when our perspective is transformed, when long-held prayers are answered, and when we experience that “aha” realization of how God is at work. These are the moments that change how we see ourselves, one another, and the gifts God has entrusted to us.

The Gospel of Luke tells us that the disciples were in awe—they were seeing Jesus fully revealed. And in that awe, their vision changed. Life was no longer measured by the ordinary things that often weigh us down, but by the reality of God’s kingdom.

Stewardship is much the same. It’s not just about money, programs, or church projects. It’s about how we live as caretakers of God’s gifts—time, talents, relationships, and resources. When we truly see God, our priorities shift. What seemed urgent may fade; what was overlooked may now matter greatly. Giving, serving, leading—all of these become acts of worship when they flow from seeing God clearly.

I want to share my own mountaintop moment. In 2001, I climbed a mountain in Korea, a place set aside for prayer, during a time when I had just lost my mother unexpectedly. I was overwhelmed by grief and depression. At the time, I had been serving as a pastor in a new church for six years and running a preschool for five years after graduating from seminary. But suddenly, this devastating loss struck our family.

I went up to that mountain carrying my grief, fasting for 40 days, seeking to confirm that God is the living God and to reaffirm my calling. I also wanted to honor my mother’s last wish—to “go to America to become a pastor”—if it was indeed God’s will. In that moment, I recalled how God had worked in my life—rescuing me when I was in danger of death and healing me when I could not walk. I confessed that whether I live or die, I would live and die in Jesus Christ, who had given me the gift of life and the grace to steward God’s gifts. Coming down from that mountain, I felt renewed and ready to continue my journey in ministry, prepared to follow wherever God would lead me next.

Mountaintops are not where we live—they are moments of vision, not a permanent home. The disciples came down from the mountain and returned to ordinary life, changed forever.

The moments of mountaintop change us. They reshape how we see ourselves, how we see one another, and how we understand the gifts God has entrusted to us.

That is what happens on the Mount of Transfiguration. The disciples glimpse Jesus in radiant glory and see who he truly is as they pray. As Peter says, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Yes, they want to stay—build tents, hold onto the moment, and preserve the holy experience.

But Jesus does not stay on the mountain. He leads them back down—back into the valley, back into ordinary life, back into real needs and real decisions. The mountaintop is not the destination; it is the revelation that prepares us for faithful living below. It is like the moment of pray right before the big discission-making; affirming moment of God’s grace.

Stewardship is what that looks like in the valley. It is living out the vision we receive on the mountain—faithfully, practically, day by day. Jesus may have wanted to show his disciples the vision of God’s glory before his crucifixion. They likely needed that holy experience to understand and confirm God’s plan before facing the terrifying reality of Jesus’ death on the cross.

We see this in our own ministry. As you may remember, the Grantsburg church faced a real and pressing need: repairing multiple furnaces with funds that were not sufficient. There was uncertainty. There were questions. But instead of turning away, the congregation stepped forward in faith. A clear goal was set. A generous matching fund was offered. The church was invited not only to give, but also to pray. And together—by God’s grace—we reached the $12,000 goal.

That wasn’t a flashy miracle. It was faithful stewardship. It was people carrying a mountaintop vision of trust in God into the valley of real responsibility. And God was glorified—not just on the mountain, but in the faithful steps taken afterward.

This is the call of the Transfiguration: to see Christ clearly, to listen deeply, and then to go down the mountain—ready to serve, ready to steward, ready to live transformed lives.

God calls us to steward what we have, not as owners, but as faithful caretakers. The mountaintop experience shows us God’s glory—it shapes our priorities, our generosity, and our service. As you leave today, may you go down into your ordinary life transformed by this vision.

Thanks be to God. Amen!