Renouncing Self-sufficiency and Relying on God's Sufficiency
 "And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that
we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from
ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4-5). Living day by day under the new covenant of grace embraces the
spiritually liberating work of the Holy Spirit. "Where the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17).
When the Holy Spirit is relied upon, there is liberty to be transformed in the image of Christ.
This transformation process is for every believer who lives by
the terms of the new covenant: "But we all." The stipulations are simple: renounce
self-sufficiency ("Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to
think of anything as being from ourselves") and rely
on God's sufficiency ("but our sufficiency is from
God"). Those who reject human resources seek God "with unveiled
face." They come humbly, without any veils of pretense or
self-justification.
Coming to the Lord in this manner brings an ongoing
blessing: "beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord."
Three mirrors reflect the glory of Christ from heavenly places into the
experience of the redeemed here on earth: the creation, the church, and the
Scriptures. The universe declares His glory. "The heavens
declare the glory of God; and
the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). Also, the Lord can be seen living in His
people. "For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus'
sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested
in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:11). These two mirrors are helpful, but
they can be distorted by sin. The mirror that reflects the Lord's glory
flawlessly is His word. "The law of the LORD is perfect...these
[the Scriptures] are they which testify of
me" (Psalm 19:7; John 5:39).
As we humbly seek the Lord in His word, we behold His glory
therein. The wonderful consequence is that we "are being
transformed into the same
image from glory to glory."
From one area after another, from one degree to another, we are being changed
into the likeness of the glorious Savior we are beholding. This process is
carried on as only the Holy Spirit could do it: "just as by the Spirit
of the Lord."
Dear Heavenly Father, I long to
be more like Your Son. Forgive me for neglect of Your word. Please draw me
consistently to the Scriptures, that I might humbly behold the glory of Jesus.
Thank You for the work of Your Spirit, who is able to enable me in living 24/7
with God at the center of my life.
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