2 Corinthians 3--"Ministers of the New Covenant"

As missionaries would travel from town to town, they would often carry "letters of recommendation".  These letters might vouch for the character of the missionaries themselves.  Or it might be a letter from a church that the missionary had planted or partnered with.  Through a quick internet search, I found that this is still commonplace today.  Paul references the giving of the law, found in Exodus 19-34.  

Paul is concerned that the Corinthians might think he is trying to convince them that he is who he says he is and is doing what he says he is doing. (chapter 2)  If anyone doubts that, they would have to look no further than the group of believers at Corinth.  Paul planted the church and that has given them a special place in his heart.  Their testimony is like a letter from Christ Jesus Himself that Paul has the privilege to deliver.   But it doesn't have to be written down, he has it memorized!  And that gives them confidence; not in themselves, but in the work of the Holy Spirit, which has more authority than any written letter.                                                         Paul uses the example of a letter, written down, to teach the Corinthians something about the law.  The law, given to Moses by God on stone tablets, showed what they could and couldn't do, should and shouldn't do.   It pointed out right and wrong;  no matter how hard they tried, they could not follow all of the commandments perfectly.  But when this law that pointed out what they could NOT attain was delivered, the glory of God was so bright the Israelites couldn't even look at Moses' face.   How much more brightly does the glory of God shine when the Spirit writes the New Promise on the hearts of those who love Him? Christ Jesus was able to place a check mark beside every law--Completed!!  He was able to go far beyond the Old Promise, because His New Promise is permanent.  💓💓Knowing all of this has given Paul boldness, and he's not about to veil it like Moses did.  Just as the Israelites' hearts were hardened to the glory of God then, they still are unable to see that Christ Jesus is their Messiah and is calling them to turn to Him.  Paul circles back around to make sure that the Corinthians understand that Jesus and the Spirit are one with God and are working toward the same goal.  And wherever They are working, there is freedom!  There is nothing between us and  a full view of the glory of God, found in Christ Jesus! 

One of the (many) things I dislike about winter is being bundled.  Oh, I hate the cold and I love to be warm, but I hate feeling the restriction of the coat and gloves as I try to drive or carry things or move in general.  It's uncomfortable.  The Israelites were uncomfortable looking at the glory of God, so they made Moses restrict it by covering it.  They wanted to keep it bundled and out of view.  Still to this day, many people read the law of Moses and can't see the glory of God in it.  But verses 16-18 should change us.  When one turns to Jesus our Lord, the veil is removed!  The restrictions that came with the Old Covenant, things we could never attain, are removed in Christ. The Spirit removes it and--ahhhhhh, freedom.   After we are unbundled from the weight of trying to do everything  ourselves and accept the freedom that can only come from a life facing Christ, we have a ministry.  Just like Paul and our Corinthian brothers and sisters,  we have been entrusted with the New Covenant, the New Promise.  It's our job, our calling, our privilege to boldly share--not a ministry of religion which leads to death, but a ministry of righteousness that leads to life!  May our living God, through Jesus and the power of His Spirit, write it on our hearts.