“For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:5-6).

We do not preach ourselves. In our day, many have forgotten that it is about Jesus. There may be good preachers, but what is that? There may be good programs, but so what? It is all about Jesus and we are reminded that Jesus is the One who saves us. Come into the light who is Christ and walk ever more deeply in the knowledge of God which He grants through the Holy Spirit and put on the face of Christ.

Lord, I am often dazzled by the salesmanship of our age and forget that it is about Jesus. Lead me Lord in the right way that I may be guided by You and not by the nonsense of this world. Help me to understand that in You alone is all hope and glory. Guide me in Your goodness to walk humbly with You wherever You lead and learn those things which You will teach me.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who has come into the world and You are the only One who saves. Although I may enjoy other things, help me to never forget that it is You who does these things. In all that I do Lord, may I always see that You are first and then all these things are added. May Your light shine through me that the world may see my good works and glorify the Father in heaven. Amen.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

There is great mystery. We probably know much less than we think and the mystery of God is much greater, but what has been revealed has been revealed for us, and there are those who see the mystery and those who will not. Do not focus upon what others will not believe, but upon the revelation of the mystery that the Lord has granted you. Walk in the light of His revelation.

Lord, it is a strange thing, but I am often influenced by what others do not believe. Help me to humbly and simply believe what You have revealed. In this age of wickedness, it is so easy to be carried away by the thoughts and actions of others. Lead me Lord in Your light and the knowledge that all things have their being in and through You. You alone are God and in You alone is light and life.

Lord Jesus, You have come to shine light into the world. All things have their being through You. Guide me in the revelation You have given that I may be influenced by You and not by the world. Hold me fast to You that I may walk with You and not be led by the wickedness of this world. Through all things, may I walk with You in the mysteries of life and eternity. Amen.

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2).

Each is called according to God’s grace and mercy. Each according to their own gifts are invited to come into the presence of God and live in the light of His countenance. How then should we live knowing these things? Come away from the arrogance of this age and see that in the Lord, who is light and life, there is the way of living that is true life. Know that only in Him is there a future.

Lord, I come at things from my own self-perspective. Move me out of myself and into the ministry You have for me. Guide me according to Your goodness to live this life of faith that I may abide in Your grace and mercy. Bring my conscience to the place where it is clear before You and willingly seeking the things that are pleasing in Your sight. Let not anything be hidden by me, for it is all seen by You.

Lord Jesus, this day and every day I need what You alone are able to do. Lift me up to walk humbly and boldly with Your guidance that I may be seen by others abiding in You. Though those around me may not live as they ought, let me not be like them, but live knowing that I live always in the life You have given me. Guide me, O Lord, that I may live the life of faith and please the Father in heaven. Amen.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

For those who are in the Lord, there is freedom.  Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father that those who come in Spirit and truth, and come as worshipers, live in the fullness of the grace and mercy of the Lord.  Be guided not by your own desires, but by the truth of the Lord which has been revealed through the salvation He has prepared in the sight of all people.  Be transformed into His glory now and forever.

Lord, You have revealed the light and the light is the light of every nation.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always walk in the light that Your Spirit shines before the footsteps of the faithful.  Help me to not so much seek to understand as to follow.  Teach me to trust You above all things and walk this life of faith that You have given me.

Come, Holy Spirit, and illumine my heart.  Teach me to abide in You as You abide in me.  Guide me according to Your purposes that I may forever walk in Your counsel.  Lead me in the goodness of Your presence and teach me to listen as You direct, walk as you direct, and live in accordance with all that brings the Father glory.  Teach me to trust You in all of my ways and walk as one for whom the veil has been lifted.  Amen.

“But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.  But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:14-16).

There are those who come to the Lord with their own expectations, desires, and goals.  As long as you come expecting the Lord to be what you imagine, the veil remains.  The Lord is Lord of all and His ways are so far above our ways that no one is able to comprehend.  Come to the Lord as you are and receive Him as He is.  Live in truth and the truth will be revealed to you that you might live into an eternal life.

Lord, I do not like being treated as someone other than who I am, yet this happens all the time.  Guide me Lord to live into the truth that You are who You are and that You have called me into Your presence.  Lead me Lord according to Your goodness to see that only in You is there hope and an eternal future.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope.

Lord Jesus, even while You walked upon the earth, those around You wanted You to do things their way.  Help me learn how to simply follow.  Guide me in the way I need to go and teach my heart to not continue the rebellion of always wanting things the way I want them.  You alone are Lord and You alone know all that is needed.  Guide me, Lord, that I may be led by You alone into the way of truth.  Amen.

“For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away” (2 Corinthians 3:11-13).

The world says, “Hush.”  Too often we listen to the world.  Do not listen to the world, but to the Word made flesh who has spoken the final answer.  Come then into the glory of the Lord and shout it from the mountaintops.  Be led not by the world, but by the One who has overcome the world.  Be guided in His grace, mercy and love to live into the life to which You have been called.

Lord, through my baptism You have called me to the greater fullness of life lived in You.  In the law of love, which is the greatest law of all, guide my heart and from there my actions to be in accord with Your Word.  Lead me according to the promises You have given and fulfilled.  May my voice ring with the truth of Your saving grace and glorious mercy which You have given to us.

Lord Jesus, You have literally gone to hell and back for the sake of those who will come into this loving relationship which You offer.  Guide me today and everyday to live into and by this love which You give.  May I become the person You are creating me to be, doing what is pleasing in the Father’s sight and always, always, following You wherever You lead me.  Amen.

“For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.  For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it” (2 Corinthians 3:9-10).

We know that the law condemns us.  Does that make the law bad?  No, by no means; for without the law we could not know how far we are from the Lord and His ways.  How much greater then is the gift of grace which restores us to walk in the Lord’s presence.  Let us walk then in the glory of the Lord and rejoice in His salvation, for greater is He who is in you than any spirit of this age.

Lord, teach me the surpassing greatness of your grace and mercy.  Help me to learn to obey, but greater still, teach me to love.  Guide me in the way of truth which You have established from the beginning: not me Lord, but You in me.  Guide me according to Your purpose that I would walk with You now and forever.  Lead me according to Your grace in the way You know I need to go.

Lord Jesus, without You none of life would be possible.  O Lord, how I have been hung up on the law and run from the greater glory of Your love and mercy.  Guide me in the way of grace that I would forever abide in You and You abide in me.  Guide me through Your Spirit that I would at all times and in all places be led by You, my rock and my Salvation.  Amen.

“But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?” (2 Corinthians 3:7-8)

We often settle for less when the Lord is offering more.  If life came through the law, why then the death of Christ?  Life comes through the One who gives life and in Him is all glory.  Do not settle for what is less when the Lord offers the fulness of life.  Live in and into Him through all things and do not live in fear.  He has come to lead us into light and life that we may abide with Him forever.

Lord, teach me these mysteries that I would not settle, as some do,  for a fearful life of constantly trying to live up to the standard of the law.  I fail.  But in You, I can live the life for which You have created me.  Lead me in this new life which does not settle, but continues in the upward path of life into life eternal.  Lead me to see through the traps and snares of this age to hear the upward call of Your grace and mercy.

Thank You Lord Jesus that You have made level the field.  You have carved out the only way to true life.  May I be a willing participant in the salvation You have prepared, walking with You each step of the way where You lead.  Guide me that I may not so much seek to understand everything but rather how to follow You as every promise of the Father becomes a reality of the eternal life You make possible.  Amen.

“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).

“By what right do you do these things,” the world asks.  It is not that we are qualified in our own right, or that our abilities, no matter how good they are, are enough.  We have been called by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to walk boldly in the faith He gives.  Let us not be led by this world, but by the One who has overcome the world.

Lord, the faith, in this sense, is simple: trust You above all things.  You have come to save as many as believe and belief is based upon trusting You.  Lead me in the right direction that I would live by Your Spirit which brings light and life into my heart.  Guide me according to Your principles and help me to walk according to the will of the Father and for His glory in all things.

Lord Jesus, for this very thing have You come that all of us who look to You would walk into and toward the new life that You give by faith.  Strengthen my heart and lead me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope.  May I so follow You that in the confidence You give, I may stand firmly and boldly upon Your grace and proclaim Your salvation in an unbelieving world.  Amen.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?  You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:1-3).

This world demands proofs, letters, and validation in order to trust veracity.  The Lord grants what He grants and those who have faith are to walk in that faith.  You need no One but the Lord to live in His truth, but Him you do need.  There are many fakers, but those who believe, walking in genuine faith, need not qualify what the Lord has given.  Walk in the sure knowledge that the Lord has written His law on your heart.

Lord, the world is constantly challenging my faith, seeking to destroy it.  Guide me in the confidence You alone give that I would be humble in demeanor, but bold in faith.  You are the One who has given what is needed, so help me trust in You above all things.  Guide me according to Your will that I would walk with my heart written upon by You.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to be constantly questioned.  You know the mistrust of those who live with the spirit of this world in their heart.  Lead me, Lord, in the narrow way that I would walk with You, knowing that You have already done all that needs to be done.  Guide me in Your goodness to see through the nonsense of this world and live into the life of faith You have given me by Your grace.  Amen.