JAN 2, 2023 [New Year’s Day Observed] – Today we will be heading to my brother’s house to have a family tradition dinner and football. Sauerkraut, Pulled Pork, and Mashed Potatoes. This is something my grandmother (my mom’s mom) used to do, and we have carried it forward. This is, however, the first time since COVID that we have been able to get together to do it, so we are all looking forward to this time together. I am covering the Mashed Potatoes and am baking 2 loaves of bread as well. It was ‘hair day’ for little Primie and quite a production but she had the most beautiful head of hair, so the payoff is always amazing.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
For today’s quiet time I spent a little more time on verses 4-6 in chapter 3. Since this is an anchor passage I plan to use throughout this next year as guiding set of principles for giving up my own self-sufficiency.
SUCH IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE THROUGH CHRIST TOWARD GOD
This confidence Paul is talking about is the credentials he just got done telling the Roman church is to him. Remember, no need to a letter of recommendation, the fruit of the church that Paul started is his recommendation letter. In that same way, Christ is our recommendation letter to God. When God the Father looks at us, He sees the accomplishments and greatness of His Son. So, Paul goes on…
NOT THAT WE ARE SUFFICIENT IN OURSELVES TO CLAIM ANYTHING AS COMING FROM US, BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD
How much clearer can this be? What Paul is saying that none what has happened is because his actions. These changes and growth of God’s Kingdom is God’s alone, and he cannot lay any claim to having made it happen. We are but instruments to be used in the hands of God.
WHO [GOD] HAS MADE US SUFFICIENT TO BE MINISTERS OF A NEW COVENANT, NOT OF THE LETTER BUT OF THE SPIRIT. FOR THE LETTER KILLS, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE
So, what has God done? He has made us sufficient to spread the word of His gospel -> the new covenant. The ‘letter’ in this instance is the Old Law [or old covenant]. But now we have the new covenant of salvation in Jesus Christ Who has paid in full the price of sin for all who will believe. The law existed to show you your sin and the Spirit exists to give the gift of eternal life.
Application:
So, lets sum it up: I have confidence in my King that He is all the recommendation I need to the Father and more (notice that the target of my worth is not here on earth). There is nothing within me that is not given by God to do his will. All that I am able to do for Him that is good, can only come from Him. Finally, one place that God has given me sufficiency is to spread the good news about His Son…that’s it -> spread. God is the only One Who can do the rest.