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"Humility," said businessman and consultant Fred Smith, "is not denying the power you have. It is realizing that the power comes through you, not from you." This is conveyed by Paul's portrayal of a Roman triumphal procession, in which a general paraded his treasures and captives amidst a cloud of incense burned for the gods. He used this image to explain the differing responses of nonbelievers and believers. But a triumphal procession also illustrated how a disciple of Christ can be utterly dependent and supremely confident at the same time.

2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6a

1. What (2:14) was Paul's assigned task?
2. What was his natural response (2:16) to this assignment?
3. But whose authority could he claim (2:17), and how (3:6a) was he equipped?
4. What word picture did Paul use (2:14) to describe his status? In what sense was he a captive? In what sense a winner?
5. Why was Paul negative (3:1) about letters of recommendation?
6. What (3:2) did he consider a better reference tool?
7. Whose impression (2:17) was the one that really mattered?
8. What was the basis (3:4-5) of Paul's confidence?

Ask God for the ability to "be honest in your estimate of yourselves" (Romans 13:3).

2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6

2:14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ's authority, knowing that God is watching us.

3:1 Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! 2 The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, combine in my life self-effacing humility and quiet confidence in your power.

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