2 Corinthians 3 - Brandon Hatmaker "Not with Ink"
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
Just a quick encouraging word today from chapter 3. Although often we feel the temptation to do so, we need not commend ourselves. And that confidence and competence comes only from God through the Spirit that offers life. I think I'll let Paul's words do the talking:
"Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 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." - 2 Corinthians 3:1-2
"Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 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." 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
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It was common practice back in Paul's day for itinerant preachers and rabbis to carry with them actual letters of recommendation as they moved from town to town to teach. These letters were essentially resumes on papyrus - lending weight, credence and authority to the individuals who carried them.
ReplyDeleteI found a sample of these kinds of letters online, and it's pretty cool. Check it out:
"Asklepiades to Zenon, greeting.
Philo, the bearer of this letter to you, has been known to me for a considerable time. He has sailed up in order to obtain employment in certain sections of the bureau of Philiskos, being recommended by Phileas and other accountants.
Be so good, therefore, as to make his acquaintance and introduce him to other persons of standing, assisting him actively, both for my sake and for that of the young man himself. For he is worthy of your consideration, as will be evident to you if you receive him into your hands.
Farewell." - Zenon Papyri 2026
I love it that Paul throws down and says, "I'm not bringing a letter on paper...you guys are my letter."
Great reminder here for all of us. Because anyone can write anything about anybody...lots of people look great on paper. But the Bible says by their fruit - not their resumes - you shall know them.
I think that we put so much pressure on ourselves to know this and that. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make something of ourself. Here Paul tells us that that sort of pressure is not needed. "Our competence comes from God." God will give us what we need to be successful not in the eyes of the world but, to be successful in His plan for us. That takes all the pressure off IF we truly are 100% sold out followers of Christ.
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