17 Mar 2007 - II Corinthians 3:5,6

Saturday, March 17, 2007

What do you think? 1. If the Apostle Paul was so accomplished in so many
ways, why does he disclaim "competence" for himself? 2. How does God
make us capable and competent? 3. Why does Paul draw such an absolute
contrast between the "the letter" and "the spirit"?
Paul is constantly downplaying his own abilities and diminishing his own
achievements --- because he has come to recognize they are not really
his own. Anything he does by himself or for himself is very limited and
not worth much. But what God gives to him is greatly valued, instilling
great confidence, and should then be invested for a greater purpose.
That purpose is a "new covenant ministry", as he calls it --- a mandate
to invite people into a transforming relationship with God. This
relationship is by God's initiative and made possible by the sacrificial
death of God's Son. And this purpose can only be fulfilled by the power
of the Holy Spirit who is sent by God. Paul is so clear about this ---
God's intent to qualify us as competent for this essential ministry ---
that he wants to dissuade us from any attempt to produce this effect in
our own strength. It can't be done and will only lead to frustration and
exhaustion. The "letter of the law" describes our effort to manufacture
a spiritual result. Predictably, the attending attitude is pride and the
inevitable outcome is futility. But when the Spirit leads, and we
follow, we come alive, trusting in His wisdom and “generativity” to grow
the Kingdom of God. And it is our high privilege to serve in the wake
created by the Spirit who is setting exactly the right pace.
How can we apply this liberating truth? We first need to recognize that
the insidious habit of taking the credit for ourselves needs to stop.
Recognizing especially that the harder we try to pump ourselves up the
more pathetic we appear. Paul once played that game, became very
image-conscious, and lost his way. He mastered the letter of the law,
but knew nothing of the spirit --- of the real meaning and purpose of
God's law that was given to lead us to Christ, to surrender our selfish
ambition. Having emptied ourselves, we rely totally on God's capacity to
empower us for a supernatural calling. He does it. We submit ourselves
to Him and look forward with a holy desire to be useful for His service.
Finally, we begin to revel in this new covenant reality --- that gives
God all of the glory as the Spirit brings life into dark, lonely, sad,
dead places. What laws and commands and judgments can never do, the new
community of God celebrates as a gift. Lives that are claimed and
changed by God's grace, not by human pressure.
So, welcome the Spirit! Let Him have His way with you! Let His life
flow, into you and through you, and out into a world in desperate need
of His ministry.
Dear Lord, we confess we have asserted ourselves and like to appear
successful ... and spiritual. But we make no claims for ourselves. We
only claim our inadequacy. But now we claim your promise to make us
competent, make us effective, as ministers of this new covenant that
delivers life --- life abundant. Thank you for this wonderful privilege.
All because of Christ, in whom we place our absolute confidence. Amen.