Daily Devotional in II Corinthians 3

Daily Nugget: 
Many doubted Paul’s apostleship. He inquired if they needed further epistles (letters) from the other apostles to verify his credibility (vs. 1), as was apparently done before. The preacher went on to say that there was better proof than any letter right in the Corinthian church (vs. 2) that he was being used of God. The proof was the church itself. Their salvations and fruit could only have come from God.

Man can build a big ministry, with the fanciest of buildings, but the spiritual increase can only come from God’s hand:
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” I Corinthians 3:7.

Many are fooled by large crowds in a ministry. They relate large numbers, size, and finances to spiritual success. That is not always the proper conclusion. With only a basic understanding of biblical principles, one can see success is not necessary to have large audiences, and money flowing.

Some of the fastest growing cults and the largest of churches may “have it all,” but “success” as God sees it, is nowhere to be found. Yes, there may be many packing large auditoriums, but few salvations. A popular and educated preacher may be in charge, but he may not even believe all the Bible he carries to the pulpit with him. There may be many raising hands and praying in the church building, but fewer taking their Christianity home with them. Large collections may be taken, but hardly any faithfully giving their tithes to the Lord. Many may be shouting how good God is, but few telling others about Christ.

On the other hand, there are the spiritual ministries. Their building may not be much to look at. The church pews may need a coat of finish. Even the numbers of attendees may appear sparse, but spiritually there may be a lot more going on than man’s eye can see. There may be a preacher that works a part-time job just to make ends meet, so he can preach to the congregation without a cost to them. He blasts out the truth from the Word of God uncompromisingly, but dutifully. Members may be sacrificially giving what little they have so the church doors will be open one more Sunday. Church members may be praying without ceasing for their church-family members. Soul-winners may be spending all their free time bringing children to church and reaching others with the Gospel.

These are the churches that really matter. These are the ministries that reach the lost and spread the Word of God. Christians with hearts like these are the real successes.

Paul had a ministry like this. He was a man that God used, and the fruits that resulted from his ministry gave evidence that God was in the work. A leader is important and often a building and other things are important to a ministry, but the most important factor is always God’s involvement.

Today’s Thought: If God didn’t show up at your church service, would anyone notice; or would it be business as usual?

Today’s Reading: II Corinthians 3
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
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.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of 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.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
12 ¶ Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (KJV)