Paul writes to the church in Corinth: “As a result of our ministry, you are living letters written by Christ, not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God – not carved onto stone tablets but on the tablets of tender hearts. We carry this confidence in our hearts because of our union with Christ before God. Yet we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence. He alone makes us adequate ministers who are focused on an entirely new covenant. Our ministry is not based on the letter of the law but through the power of the Spirit. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit pours out life.” – 2 Corinthians 3:3-6
When we attempt to live in our own strength, we’re not being led by the gift of Christ’s Spirit in us. There can only be one driver in the driver’s seat. Sadly, we’re often misdirected to operate in such a way that we believe the works we are doing are of God, but if the Spirit hasn’t led us and isn’t empowering us to do the work, our efforts may be good, but not of Him.
We were never meant to live by our own strength. Because of God’s great love for us, the salvation that is the foundation of our faith, was all about Jesus and His desire to liberate us from the sin that has entangled humanity since the Garden of Eden. Through faith in the work of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection, the result of the implanted Holy Spirit in us is what brings us to new life. Giving us power to accomplish His plans and purposes for our life. We have nothing to boast about in-and-of ourselves, aside from the work and love of Jesus and His Spirit in us.
May we be women who are captivated by the Holy Spirit. May we lean and depend on His strength, His power, His guidance each and every day. May we be the ‘tender hearts’, that the Spirit of the Living God writes His will upon, and empowers us to carry them through, because we’ve spent time in His presence and trust more than anything that His way and His plans for us are the best. May we consider it a great joy to be ministers of the covenant of grace and love, that draw others around us to leave what they once knew, in order to live a life abandoned to Jesus, and be captivated by His Spirit.
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