The Surpassing Glory

Let's continue looking at 2 Corinthians chapter 3 as the previous two posts have.

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?  If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!  For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing.  And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!"  2 Corinthians 3:7-11

To understand how awesome this passage is one must know the story of Moses in Exodus chapter 34.

"The LORD said to Moses, 'Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.'  Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water.  And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant... the Ten Commandments.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.  When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.  But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them.  Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.  But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with Him, he removed the veil until he came out.  And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant.  Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD."  Exodus 34:27-34

The story of Moses in Exodus chapter 34 is amazing.  The old covenant was given to Moses and the glory surrounding it was so amazing that the people ran from Moses in fear.  The old covenant was glorious, but it brought condemnation.  The old covenant was glorious, but the glory was fading.

The story of Jesus is more amazing.  God Himself came to earth and delivered the words of the new covenant.  In fact, God Himself is the Word of the new covenant.  The new covenant brings eternal life.  The new covenant brings righteousness.  The new covenant's glory never fades away, it is eternally glorious!

Brothers and sisters, this is the covenant, the new covenant, that we are invited into with God.  This is the glorious ministry that we get to participate in with God.  This is the new covenant that make the old covenant seem as a dim light in comparison.

"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold."  2 Corinthians 3:12

"... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

The new covenant will bring dramatic change into your life and make you increasingly glorious like the One who made the covenant with you.  Have faith in the surpassing glory of the ministry you've been called into.  Because the Holy Spirit lives in you, you can shine radiantly like Jesus today.