2 Corinthians 3:7-13 Am I Bold Enough?
“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, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away” (NIV).
Paul was speaking of Moses whose face shown so brightly that he had to hide it from the people after he had been with the Lord, when Paul compared this glory of Moses with the glory we should be showing because of the new covenant we have in Jesus Christ. Moses’ glow lessened as the time grew from the time he had been with the Lord. Our glow should not diminish because God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, resides with us daily—every day. We need to be as bold as this outstandingly beautiful fall tree with its bright red leaves so different from its leaves before it was changed from the green shown by all the trees. It needs to be obvious that we have “seen” Christ and have been changed by Him, and the change is bigger than the change this tree undergoes in the fall of the year. The tree stands out, proclaiming its change for all to see, but it does not force itself on those who see it. It is merely obvious that it has been changed, and it shows the result of that change in a grand manner. Lord, help me to be as bold as this tree in proclaiming the change that Jesus has made in me. No one should have to ask me, “Are you a Christian?” It should be obvious by my actions and the love I show to others. I want to be BOLD for CHRIST!