2 Corinthians 3:5-6
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (NIV)

2 Corinthians 3:4-6
“We couldn’t be more sure of ourselves in this—that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation. We wouldn’t think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to help carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn’t written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It’s written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives!” (MSG)

—

I got a great birthday gift last month. It was a reMarkable 2, a paper-like tablet that lets me take meeting notes, plan my weeks and days, and helps me live a more organized and less distracted life. I enjoyed it so much that I leveraged a few older pieces of electronic equipment to trade up to the new reMarkable Paper Pro, which adds color options.

I love my Apple iPad. I’ve had several over the years, and they make working and learning much easier and more pleasurable. The problem with the iPad is it can do so much, and I do so much with it, that I can be easily distracted when I need to do something really important.

The reMarkable removes those distractions by helping me focus on one thing at a time. This is a true gift for somebody like me who bounces from thought to thought and idea to idea as quickly as a border collie puppy after a five-minute power nap.

One thing I learned about the reMarkable tablet this week is that I can actually work in layers. This isn’t a new idea for those of you with an artistic bent. However, I do not have an artistic bent, at least not of that kind, and I have never worked in layers on any device. I had to watch a YouTube video this week to help me understand what it means to use layers.

Now that I understand something of the idea of layers, I think I understand 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 a little better. Paul says, in The Message paraphrase, “The plan wasn’t written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes killing your spirit. It’s written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives!”

The Ten Commandments were written on stone. They are immutable, which means unchanging. They stand the test of time. They are as true today as they were when God handed them to Moses on the mountain. At the same time, they are as impossible for us to keep completely and perfectly as they have ever been. We require the empowerment of the Spirit of God to live the life he intends for us.

The base layer is the written law. The next layer is Jesus’ fulfillment of that law. The final layer is the Spirit of God empowering us to align and attune our hearts and minds with his words of truth and life.

If you’re struggling at some point with thoughts, feelings, behaviors, attitudes, etc., which layer is giving you the biggest problem? What is missing?

Do you understand God’s truth as recorded in the Ten Commandments?

Do you see how Jesus fulfilled for us what we could not do for ourselves?

Are you living in the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit?

This idea of layers, as noted, is fairly new to me. I will ponder it in the days ahead, seeking to understand it better from a biblical perspective and application.

Our family is planning a ski trip in late January and early February. One of the things Texans have to do when they go to cold-weather locations like the mountains of Colorado and Utah is learn the secrets of layering. Base layers, denim and flannel layers, jackets, gloves, and hats all help keep us warm in cold environments. A missing layer can make a cold day miserable.

A missing layer of truth can make our walk with God a little less rewarding on our side of the equation. Which layer do you need to give more attention to today?

—

I will layer up so I can walk ever more comfortably through life with God.

—

Our Father, help me understand your intention and purpose for my life. Help me understand the basic requirements that are as true today as they have ever been. Help me see and understand more fully what it means that Jesus paid the price for me to live in a kind of freedom that would not be available any other way. Help me understand how to live ever more fully in the empowering presence of your Spirit. Wrap me in those layers I require to honor you and serve others. Amen.