Good morning, all!
Father, thank you for a new day filled with Your promises. Promise of a better life, promise of a better us, promise of better faith. Your word declares that the heavens do rule, so we pray let it be. You alone are lawgiver and judge, so we trust you with our life and know that we’re in the best hands possible, Amen.
2 Corinthians 3
3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Clearly, your life reflects Christ which is meant to minister to others. It’s NOT some legal document written in ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It’s NOT written in stone, but on human hearts.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
We are confident of all this because we trust God through Christ.
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;
Not that we THINK we have earned anything on our own. Whatever we have it comes from God.
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
He has enabled us to help others by the new covenant. NOT some legal document, but of the Spirit: living by legalese destroys relationships, but the spirit GIVES life.
Bottom line
What are the rules to life? We all have them, some the same and some different depending on how you grew up. Brush your teeth, make your bed, do your homework, learn your memory verse, these of course are innocent and NOT exactly what Paul is talking about. He’s talking about living a legalistic life, you know let the punishment fit the crime sort of speak. Now in the church world we like to call it “reap what you sow”, but that is a legalistic mentality and certainly NOT what Jesus taught.
[1Co 6:7 AMP] Why, the very fact that you have lawsuits with one another is already a defeat. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? The minute you take somebody to court you are already DEFEATED! Does that sound like God expects us to take legal action against one another? This is what Paul is saying in this text, our lives…the way we live…is a LIVING epistle to be read by the world. What rules did Jesus live His life by?
[Jhn 5:19 NLT] So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. Did you SEE that? Jesus ONLY lived based on what He SAW His Father doing…witness of a life lived. Seriously, what is more impactful what I say or what you see me do? At work this is what we call “the audio DON’T match the video”, feel me? When Paul is writing about “the letter” he’s NOT speaking about God’s law, scripture says His word is tried and perfect so that’s NOT the problem. The letter he’s speaking of here is really speaking of entitlement, and if you think your entitled to something you’re THINKING is of your own sufficiency. Remember the two brothers fighting over their Father’s inheritance, what did Jesus say?
[Luk 12:15 NLT] 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you get. He told them BEWARE…translation…be on guard for oneself (i.e. for one’s safety’s sake of mind) so as not to violate others. What were the brother’s violating? The word written on their heart…LOVE! Do you think someone owes you something? Are you measuring how much you get?
[Rom 13:8 KJV] Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. The proper Greek translation is NO man is owed anything BUT…which erases whatever came prior to that phrase anyway…we OWE each other LOVE; that’s it…full STOP! The letter…that mentality kills, bring death to our lives spiritually but the spirit gives NOT takes. The answer to the rules for life is…GIVE. You know when you start to GIVE? When you believe you have all that you need and you’re NOT owed anything because your SUFFICIENCY is from God. Rule #1 for life according to Jesus, it’s NOT measured by how much you GET. So maybe rule #2 is we measure by how much we GIVE? Hmm…reminder…we should do as we SEE the Father do.
[Luk 6:38 NIV] Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. God will always give us the answer to life, what is the measure that God will measure back to you? It’s GIVE…that’s the measure NOT let me see how much I can get! I pray when people LOOK at our life they will see CHRIST running all over our life because we give so much, they don’t know where it starts or where it ends…just give!
Point to Ponder
What does God love? [2Co 9:7 KJV] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. No confusion here, be intentional with love and compassion it’s the only measure that matters to God…and don’t forget to smile.
Let His spirit rule our lives, In Him Phil
Faith – Family – Friends
