"For if what is
passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. Therefore, since
we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech -- unlike Moses, who put a
veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at
the end of what was passing away." (2Corinthians 3:11-13 NKJ)
On the 15th of
December, 2007, I walked across the stage at Samford University and received my
Doctor of Ministry degree from Dean Timothy George of the Beeson School of
Divinity. I was elated that this doctoral journey had finally ended.
I was six years old
when I started on this journey of life-long learning. At that age, I would have
resisted any idea that I would continue on this journey any longer than
required by the authorities. And now, fifty-seven years later, it is a journey
of discovery. I am like the merchant who went searching for pearls and found
"a priceless pearl." I go searching and when God reveals his
"priceless pearls," I want to buy the field and tell everybody about
my discovery.
What I have known
all along -- but finally learned -- is that the "glory" of the
journey fades as we learn what God intends for us to learn and experience. The
glory of yesteryear's salvation fades because I need the glory of a present day
salvation. God's mercies are new and fresh every morning! The glory of past
milestones fade away.
According to the
Apostle Paul, the Christian hope does not reside in yesterday's achievements,
no matter how glorious. My hope does not reside in commendations or awards or
introductory letters or credentials or degrees hung on the wall. Those
"letters" kill because life is not inherent in them. Even the Bible
has no life in its paper and ink, but only in its message of Jesus Christ. He
is the Living Word of God, and when an individual meets and experiences Christ,
that individual becomes alive because Christ is Life.
Just like the glory
faded from Moses' face, so the glory in my ministry also fades if it is not
done by the Spirit. Paul writes, "we are not competent of our selves to
think that we can do anything by ourselves, but our competency is from
God" (2 Cor. 3:5).
And "since we
have such hope" in the glorious, continuous ministry of the Spirit, we
speak boldly about the life which comes through Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Savior. We know there is no "salvation in any other, for there is no other
name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12
NKJ).
What hope! The glory
of salvation ministry by the Spirit is consistent and never fades.
Dear Father, thank
you for the glory of Christ that remains. Empower us to speak boldly about his
glorious ministry of salvation. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Is the glory fading
from your life or being renewed everyday?
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