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“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit.  For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6, ESV)

Growing up, I attended a church that had a lot of rules.  The rules were given as “advice” and were meant to help guide new followers of Christ.  By keeping them from worldly influences that may pull them away from God. There was good intention behind the creation of the rules.  However, they erroneously gave people a false sense of “sufficiency” that somehow if they did all the right steps God would love them more. The notion that if they followed all these rules, they would be “good enough” for God.

As we saw in the Old Testament, the letter of the law (rules) didn’t change people’s hearts.  It only told them what to do.

However, by accepting Jesus as Savior, the indwelling Spirit becomes the law written on our hearts. Under the new covenant, the Spirit and the law are friends, not enemies.  Working together to change the person from the inside creating a desire to follow God’s Word for our life.

Paul wrote the letter of second Corinthians to the church in Corinth after he had visited them. There had been an upheaval at the church.  He had been insulted by some of the members, and his apostolic authority had been challenged.  Instead of responding with a long list of deeds he had done that proved his qualifications to minister, he boasted in the sufficiency of Christ.

We are competent in Christ. Through the power of His blood shed on the cross for our sins.  Not through our own strength or deeds.

Some people refuse to be used by God.  They cling to their comfort zones fully convinced they “are not ready,” but truth is we are never ready or worthy.  If we were then the sufficiency to change our lives or others would be in ourselves, not God.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  (Matthew 9:35-38, ESV)

The harvest is a world full of hurting people looking for hope in all the wrong places.  We are the laborers chosen to go to those hurting.  Yet, we often refuse our assignments because we don’t believe we’re “sufficient” enough.

Paul (previously Saul) wrote thirteen books of the Bible while embracing his own weakness and ministered to thousands over the years. (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

What will you allow Christ to do through you for the Kingdom?

“Father, help us to embrace our weakness and claim the sufficiency of Christ to do what You have called us to do today.”

For His Glory,

Laura Holmes  (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life