2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
3 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.
Reflection
We have so many things these days that serve to validate ourselves, to prove that we’re capable of doing whatever it is we’re supposed to do. We have diplomas and certificates, titles and business cards. But in the Kingdom, when it comes to our credentials as ministers, the one thing that truly matters is who God calls us to be and what He has done in our lives. Our competency comes not from our achievements and accomplishments but from the work of the Spirit. We can trust that God alone has made us competent and able for all that we’re called to do.
Response
Let’s remember and receive again God’s provision for us as ministers. Not just what we think is adequate, but abundant provision of the Spirit, because of what He has done on the cross and through the resurrection. Pray that we would depend on His calling and provision over us so we can joyfully and confidently minister to others.
