The way you live is a recommendation to others. What path are you recommending?
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2 Corinthians 3 Summary
There are two paths that lie before you.
The first path points you to yourself, albeit in two very different ways. Most people in this world seek to consume their way to happiness by doing whatever it is that their heart desires, even though, as we learned in Ecclesiastes, this pursuit is a meaningless chasing after the wind.
Others on this same inward focused path have a more noble pursuit of channeling an inner strength focused upon keeping a list of rules & regulations in an attempt to prove their worth to God, but as today's chapter points out, not even Moses himself could sustain this fading glory.
Both of these self reliant paths are described as ministries of death (v7).
But as a Christian, you are on a very different path, which Paul describes as the ministry of the Spirit (v8), which leads to a permanent glory (v11). He goes on to remind you that since you have such a hope, you can live boldly (v12).
It's this second path, the ministry of the Spirit, that will lead you to true fulfilment and shalom, because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (v17).
Dig Deeper
What makes for an attractive church? Shiny, well laid our facilities, friendly people sipping artisan coffee fellowshipping after services, and lots of activities & programs for all ages certainly make a church seem attractive.
But Paul here reminds us that the most attractive attribute a church has doesn't have anything to do with buildings or activities, but rather is seen in members who have transformed lives.
The Corinthians were confused as to who they should follow, so Paul tells them to look at each other - people transformed by the power of the Spirit through their participation in the church - as his letter of recommendation (v2-3).
Pray that your life is an attractive letter of recommendation for your church.
AAA Prayer:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our God and heavenly Father whose very presence literally lights up the faces of those He visits (v7)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be a letter from Christ (v3) testifying to the transforming work of the Spirit in your life
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
