II Corinthians Chapters 1 – 3

II Corinthians 1:1-11

"That is the ministry. If you want to be used by Christ, you can expect affliction. Because our ministry of the things of Christ to others comes from experiencing Him.  It is not just our head knowledge of scripture or quoting scripture at people.  It is literally experiencing the afflictions that come with walking with Christ.  He also called them the sufferings of Christ.  Realizing that when you walk with Christ, not only are you walking in His resurrection power, but we are also walking in the fellowship of His sufferings. They go hand in hand. While I experience the afflictions that accompany walking with Christ, I also experience the comfort and compassion that the Lord has for us."

II Corinthians 3:1-11 ~ The Sufficiency of Christ Part 1

What an awesome concept to realize. The word of God is being inscribed, engraved, upon our minds and upon our hearts. Not for memorization so much, as it is for change and transformation. We do not have to quote it. We are living letters.

That is, you and I affect everybody that we come in contact with. The only thing that makes me sufficient to be a minister of Christ is the Lord's work in your heart. Period. If the Lord does not work in your heart and touch your life through my life I have nothing to say.

But even if there is no ministry, I am affecting you no matter what. Paul is making it clear that people are "reading you." People are coming to know you and the message that the author Jesus Christ is writing in your life. You are being read and known by all men. 

An awesome awareness coming to realize that it is not our words. We are not salesman going out reaching people for Christ. Our hearts have been engraved, not in stone like the Ten Commandments were, but on the heart of flesh. Not with ink on paper, but engraved by the Spirit of the living God.