Monday, March 01, 2010

commendation?..

4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He 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.
…………………………………………………………………………. II Corinthians 3: 4-6

Recently, as I have been discussing with friends the work set out for us – the Mission of Jesus, the carrying forth of the gospel—we have been reminding each other of the truth we find in II Corinthians 3 and 4. That is, we are called to boldly, fearlessly, and selflessly spread the love of Christ to those who do not have Christ and to disciple those who call upon His name.  However, in talking about the mission, especially the practical aspects, we find ourselves feeling anxious at the uncertainty of what lies ahead and at the weight of what we are feeling called to do. 

It is in feeling this uncertainty that I find myself searching the Scriptures for words of instruction and even of comfort.  As I was reading tonight through the Scriptures referenced in Sunday’s message, I felt the need to post the passage above.  These feelings of inadequacy or uncertainty are mere reassurance that I am, in fact, woefully inadequate to the task—and how blessed that this is true, that I might put off the old self all the more readily and put on the new self, the redeemed self, the self that has been justified and is now being sanctified unto that for which Christ took hold for me.

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