Exceedingly Glorious

Reading:  2 Corinthians 3:7-11
    
    From the perspective of an insider to both covenants, Paul contrasts the Mosaic system and the Christian system.  While he is hard on the Law of Moses—he calls it “the ministry of death”(v. 7) and the “ministry of condemnation”(v. 9)—he also acknowledges that it was wonderfully glorious.  “Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?”(2 Cor 3:7-8).  Paul takes us to Mt Sinai, where Moses descended from the mountain with a glowing face after receiving the law.  He has been in the presence of God himself.  The glory of the Lawgiver shines even on its human mediator.

     Yet if Moses’ Law held glory even though it led to death, “will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?”.  Not only does Jesus’ law come through the Spirit, but it also results in “righteousness” instead of “condemnation”(v. 9).  Paul is using shorthand for the argument he develops at greater length in Romans:  Moses’ Law identifies sin but does not deliver us from sin’s power.  What we find in the Law is merely a deeper awareness of our sinfulness.  Yet Jesus saves us from sin and breaks our slavery to it, resulting in righteousness rather than condemnation.  More, Jesus’ work is with us forever:  “For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory”(2 Cor 3:11).  Moses’ ministry was glorious; Jesus’ ministry is exceedingly glorious because it is “permanent”.

    Glory speaks to the majesty and divine perfection of God’s work.  God was at work to teach, guide, and sanctify Israel through Moses, so there was glory.  But God is at work in far greater ways in Jesus—bringing true transformation, renewing our minds, and delivering us from death.  We may not see it yet, but the traces of God’s handiwork in Jesus are exceedingly glorious.

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One Thing to Think About:  Why do we struggle with taking blessings (such as the new covenant) for granted?

One Thing to Pray For:  Gratitude for the “ministry of righteousness” that has blessed my life
 

A Letter from Jesus

Reading:  2 Corinthians 3:1-6
    
    Paul has some enemies in Corinth who appear eager to take his words in the worst way.  So when he insists that he and his companions are not “peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity”(2 Cor 2:17), he is aware concerned that even this will appear self-serving.  “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?  Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?”(2 Cor 3:1).  Paul is not tooting his own horn.  He also wonders if, despite their long association, he now needs a recommendation from some other source before they will respect him.  “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.  And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts”(2 Cor 3:2-3).  The Corinthians’ faith and service to Jesus are all the recommendation Paul needs; they are evidence of his faithfulness to God.  Corinth itself has become a “letter from Christ delivered by us.”

    Being Jesus’ messenger makes Paul bold (2 Cor 3:4).  Yet this boldness is not his natural confidence:  “not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant”(2 Cor 3:5-6).  God has equipped Paul and his companions, making them equal to the tasks he has given them.  Now they are “ministers of a new covenant” which supersedes the Mosaic covenant.  Now God’s message is on tablets of heart rather than stone (v. 3) and focuses on the transforming work of the Spirit, not merely following written laws (v. 6).

    Paul’s credibility does not originate in what others say about him, but in the reality of his work with God’s people.  This work—evidence of God’s transforming power in people’s lives—becomes a “letter from Christ” that teaches the world in his physical absence.  What does my life—my family—my church—communicate to the world about Jesus?

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One Thing to Think About:  How have I seen Christ work through me to bless others?

One Thing to Pray For:  Purity of heart and motive
 

Who Is Sufficient for These Things?

Reading:  2 Corinthians 2:12-17
    
    Having sent the tear-soaked letter to Corinth, Paul is on pins and needles waiting to hear how the church received it.  “When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there.  So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia”(2 Cor 2:12-13).  Paul is so distressed about this situation that he turns away from an open door for evangelism in Troas.  What normally energizes and excites him cannot give him peace.  

    While he only hints at the answer he gets (he will describe it more fully in 2 Cor 7:5ff), Paul clearly receives good news.  “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spread the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere”(2 Cor 2:14).  Paul pictures the triumphal marches of the Roman emperors, who would parade through a town with a procession of the prisoners they have gained in the battle.  Paul is in this procession as a slave, yet shares in the triumph of Christ and helps him spread his “fragrance.”  “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.  Who is sufficient for these things?”(2 Cor 2:15-16).  The fragrance smells different to different people, just as the gospel looks different depending on the heart of the listener (1 Cor 1:18, 23-24).  Some learn Christ and smell life, others death.  Yet all of it hinges on the followers of Jesus, who spread this fragrance.  What an awesome responsibility!  Who is sufficient for these things?

    “Who is sufficient for these things?” is Paul’s humble question.  Working alongside God in growing his kingdom is a tremendous honor.  We do not deserve it nor do we have sufficiency—strength, wisdom, holiness—in ourselves.  The closer we come to God’s work, the more our unworthiness shines through.  We are insufficient in ourselves, yet “our sufficiency comes from God, who has made us sufficient”(2 Cor 3:5-6).

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One Thing to Think About:  Do I consider it an honor to work for Jesus?

One Thing to Pray For:  God’s empowerment to accomplish his work
 

Satan’s Schemes

Reading:  2 Corinthians 2:6-11
    
    While the details are unclear, someone in the Corinthian church has sinned and Paul has written them to address the problem (2 Cor 2:4-6).  The wording implies that the man has harmed Paul specifically (see v. 5, 10).  Yet here Paul urges forgiveness and reconciliation.  “For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him”(2 Cor 2:6-8).  The church has “punished” the man—evidently by withdrawing from him—and Paul says that it is now time to “forgive and comfort” and “reaffirm your love.”  They should accept him again and restore the bonds of fellowship.  Presumably the man is willing to change his behavior so that this situation will not recur.

    Paul gives more insight into his thinking when writing to the church.  “For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything”(2 Cor 2:9).  Some divine expectations are very difficult to fulfill; they “test” us and our commitment.  He also reassures them that he is over the problem himself:  “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive.  Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs”(2 Cor 2:10-11).  Forgiveness is important because it keeps us from being “outwitted by Satan.”  Satan has “designs” or schemes geared toward our spiritual defeat.  We must rally around each other—and let go the wounds of the past—or we will fall into his traps.

    Paul’s perspective here is healthy because it reminds us that we face a crafty adversary.  He will use even our moments of obedience to “outwit” us into growing overly severe.  Similarly, he can lead us to grow proud of our humility, confident in our own strength, and blind to our faults.  But forgiveness is essential because when we fail to let go of the hurts of the past, we can fall into sin by our response to others’ sins.  We sorely need God’s help, wisdom, and people to overcome Satan’s schemes.

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One Thing to Think About:  What does Satan have planned for me?

One Thing to Pray For:  A heart to let go of the hurts of the past 
 

Love Hurts

Reading:  2 Corinthians 2:1-5
    
    There is history behind these verses.  At some point between 1 Corinthians and this letter, Paul has made a “painful visit”(2 Cor 2:1) to Corinth in which someone there made attacks on Paul (2 Cor 2:5-8).  (Some suppose this is the incestuous man from 1 Cor 5).  After the visit, Paul wrote a letter prompting the group to act against the man (2 Cor 2:3-4).  Here Paul frankly describes his emotions as the problem unfolded.  “For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.  For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?”(2 Cor 2:1-2).  This is the reason for Paul’s altered travel plans:  rather than the joy of reunion, Paul would find the pain of rejection.  More, Paul is worried about causing them pain by coming (2 Cor 1:23, 2:2).

    He also gives a window into his emotions while writing the letter.  “For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you”(2 Cor 2:4).  Letters (and emails and texts) often veil the true emotions of the writer.  We can come across as stern or cold.  However he may have sounded, Paul wants them to know that he felt “anguish of heart” and that “many tears” soaked the page.  The reason is that he knew his words would pain the ones he loved so much.  He wanted to challenge them, but also to “let you know the abundant love that I have for you.”  Love hurts.

    There is a side of love that our culture often ignores.  Love hurts—not because those we love disappoint us or betray us.  Love hurts because it sometimes involves confrontation, hard honesty, challenge, rebuke, warning, and concern.  When we care about people, we say important things to them even though they may hurt.  Meanwhile, it hurts us to see the effect our love has.  We are caught between the rock of saying what is needed and the hard place of causing pain.  To truly, deeply love, we must embrace this pain.

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One Thing to Think About:  How have I experienced love causing pain?

One Thing to Pray For:  The courage to love others even when it hurts them and me