2 Corinthians 3
August Memory Verse: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Read: 2 Corinthians 3
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… 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (ESV)
I love the simplicity of these two verses.
They recognize the lack of ability on our end to draw near to God, yet at the same time points us to the sufficient work of Christ on our behalf that brings us to God. It points us to the greatness and glory of God, while also helping us see that we have no greatness or glory to offer inside of ourselves.
Our culture has discipled us to believe that we are sufficient in ourselves; that we should find confidence in who we are and what we can do. But this is an extremely self-focused view that does not leave room for God-focus. The problem is that we often try to marry the ideas of the world, that we are good enough, with the Biblical reality that we aren’t.
We must be aware of the ways that we are tempted to subtly believe the truths of our world instead of the Truth’s of God’s Word.
Choose, today, to rest in God’s sufficiency for us in Christ.
By: Graham Withers
Read: 2 Corinthians 3
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… 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (ESV)
I love the simplicity of these two verses.
They recognize the lack of ability on our end to draw near to God, yet at the same time points us to the sufficient work of Christ on our behalf that brings us to God. It points us to the greatness and glory of God, while also helping us see that we have no greatness or glory to offer inside of ourselves.
Our culture has discipled us to believe that we are sufficient in ourselves; that we should find confidence in who we are and what we can do. But this is an extremely self-focused view that does not leave room for God-focus. The problem is that we often try to marry the ideas of the world, that we are good enough, with the Biblical reality that we aren’t.
We must be aware of the ways that we are tempted to subtly believe the truths of our world instead of the Truth’s of God’s Word.
Choose, today, to rest in God’s sufficiency for us in Christ.
By: Graham Withers
2 Comments
I left myself a little note in my Bible regarding verse 18. We become that which we gaze upon.
So the mirror we gaze into, like the mirrors of Paul's day...they don't work too well, if you think about it. There's a veil. There's the mirror's surface that is grainy and imperfect. But the view of the Lord is still enough to supply us all we need in Christ. Oh how we wish for that day where the veil will be cleared away, how we will see Him face to face. What glory we will behold.
I love verses 17 and 18. The old covenant condemned us as sinners. Through the new covenant, Christ transforms us into His image through His spirit. Thanks Graham!