2 Corinthians 3

This devotional is written by Dreem Nkumbula.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The greater glory of the new covenant
7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The most challenging and yet integral part of our walk with Christ is really shown in the beginning of this letter. Paul beautifully shares the fruits of ministry and how the Spirit of God can be the author of a Christian's story. There are two parts to hold on to here, first that it is the Spirit that gives life and with this spiritual life we can freely live out the law. This however is only possible through Christ Jesus, we are therefore reminded not to commend ourselves, moreover we are commended through Jesus.

What a glorious news to know that through this covenant the Holy Spirit will give us a new life, freedom and family in the church; our community. This is an important and exciting or rather glorious part of our Christian walk! We need to invite the spirit into our hearts daily, making it a habit to call on our helper and advocate to enable us. When Paul writes how much more greater is that glory which lasts ! It awakens me, I really feel like my veil is taken away. I can live in truth and in freedom. The greater glory of the new covenant is that we can have such confidence through Christ before God and not self -righteousness.

When our colleagues, friends and loved ones ask us about being a Christian, what defines our response? I see the glorious freedom in this passage and I am anchored to it. Because the words 'where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom' remind me of the access we have to power, hope and comfort. How wonderful is it that through this covenant and with the holy spirit we have joyful freedom, by giving over everything we have in our hearts (and this means everything) then we make our hearts free. Easier said than done for some of us but let's start with asking the holy spirit to fill up your heart daily so that you can live a life of pure freedom.