Scripture: “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 being brought to an end), will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, [then] the ministry of righteousness much far exceed it in glory.
Indeed, in this case, what once had glory (the Old Covenant) has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it (the New Covenant). For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold…And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another…” excerpts from 2 Cor 3:7-12 and v18
Observation: Here is where I must think about what the Scriptures say. I can get lost in the “because of this, then that” assertions being made and want to jump right to the eye-candy of…well, I don’t know here. Hard to see, isn’t it?
Analysis: Reading several chapters in a row and daily starts me thinking.
I have usually read a single chapter and tried to drain it dry, or more likely, found one little nugget that was easy to find and latch onto that with vigor.
Problem is with that process; I am only finding the one nugget in a field of nuggets—one is easy and fits into a pocket. What about the rest that could fill a wheelbarrow?
What is Paul hammering here? He is being thorough and pounding a theme using the comparison between the Old and New Covenants. I am of the generations of the New Covenant, right? Old has passed away?
I think that Paul is hammering on vision. What am I supposed to be about? The ministry of Condemnation or the ministry of Righteousness? Old Cov or New Cov? Death or Life?
Vision is what can drive me forward, always forward. As a believer my voice should be “Follow me as I follow Christ!” The focus of the statement isn’t “Follow me” as the primary part of the statement; no, it is “as I follow Christ.”
As God appointed Moses for the ways of the Old Covenant, there was Glory in it. Mounds and heaps of Glory. But it was, at it is said, not of Life but of Death. If the testimony of the Old Covenant was of Death, and it had Glory, mounds of Glory, then what of the New Covenant? How much Glory does the New Cov have in comparison? Tons and Tons and Tons.
This is the kind of stuff that punches up the Vision quotient. It is what can charge me every morning, put punch in my reading, makes me want, really want to pursue holiness (sanctification) in my conduct and relationships, inspires me to pursue the higher gifts and want to prophecy.
It makes me understand that I have been set free, really free from the bonds of sin and death. I can learn to Love like Jesus loves, and so much more….
I am, and can be, transformed!
Prayer: Father, this morning I wondered where this Chapter was going to take me. Thank you for opening my heart and mind and letting my fingers talk. AMEN