Friday, July 2, 2010

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

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.

Questions to consider:
  • What should characterize your attitude if you are personally involved in the dispensation of the spirit?
  • To what extent are you being changed daily? How? Why?

Possibilities for prayer:

“Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
What a beautiful statement! There is something beautiful about the realization that being a Jesus follower is not about a bunch of rules within which we are constrained, forced to lead boring and staid lives. Instead, we are given FREEDOM to experience the love, power, and glory of Jesus. Today, let’s thank God for and celebrate the freedom that exists with His spirit, and ask for it to be even more present in our lives.