Much of this reading is meant to contrast the Old Testament revelation with the new revelation through the Lord Jesus. V. 1 – Paul appeals to the “changed lives” (the new Christians) which have resulted from the preaching of this Gospel by himself and also by others. How and how much has your life been changed by you becoming a Christian through faith in the Lord Jesus? V. 3 – The best ad for an effective ministry is seen in the changed lives of the people who respond to the invitation of our Lord. V. 4 – Paul notes that he and the other witnesses for Christ are NOT qualified in and of themselves; but they ARE because of GOD! V. 7 – Paul continues to lean heavy on being aware of Old Testament revelation. He speaks of the old covenant as ending in death; while the new covenant (in Christ) results in life! V. 17 – There is freedom in Christ! (not bondage). Do you think that perhaps too many professing Christians think of the things they “can’t do” because they are Christians…thus living in an unfortunate form of bondage? Rather than realizing the wonderful sense of freedom they now experience because Christ has set them free? Can you think of some personal examples of feeling in a form of bondage? Read again the last 2 lines of today’s reading: “The Lord makes us more and more like Him!” Recall the hymn: “Be like Jesus, this my song, in the home and in the throng; Be like Jesus all day long! I would be like Jesus.”
Donald E. Pardun
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