A Daily Devotion for Monday, June 8

2Corinthians 3:4-18

Such confidence we have 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. 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, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 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. 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. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.

The reading this morning and the devotion in the UR brought me to thinking about Pastor Jen’s sermon regarding the theme of annual conference this last week. There needs to be some middle ground, wherein we remember we are not finished projects or perfected machines ourselves, all oiled up and ready to go out and save the world in the name of God. Far from that, we know we are imperfect, incomplete works in progress. This is why I believe so completely that we need to continue to work actively on ourselves in order to be able to help others. The church needs both the vertical and the horizontal active. We mustn’t sacrifice or ignore either one.

Holy Lord, help me to grow closer to you and more Christlike. Enable me to shine your light in the world, even in a small way. Help me to see your will for me. Thank-you, Lord. Amen

Becky, transforming