Life as a Letter of Recommendation
I have been praying for a bible teaching, Christ centered local church to attend. I began to read this morning and the word illuminated my heart. Paul begins in this scripture passage with these words,
"You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. (NKJV) also
translated like this (NLT),
"The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our[a] hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 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.
What struck me in reading this morning was Paul's tells the Corinthians that they were like living letters of recommendation for those that had labored among them (Paul & His accompaniments.) I'm reminded me of one of my dear Pastors, Dr. Otis McMillan, who pastored me for 3 years at a local church. Those of us that he has pastored, when you see our lives and how we continually strive to live for Christ, apply God's word, seek his righteousness and live holy and acceptable before God, we are letters of recommendation of God's work through Pastor, before those that have never heard Him neither have seen him. He never needed a flyer to promote ministry. Word got out across this nation and world through the members of the church he pastored and those he preached too, those living letters of recommendation whose lives showed the good work of His labor through Jesus Christ.
For those like me searching for a local assembly, searching for true living water and the bread of life, Jesus Christ, that never leaves you without, WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE EPISTLE, LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION, RECOMMEND???? Many have heard the Gospel and learned biblical truths only not to apply them and their letters of recommendation for those that labored among them can't even be used because they lack full evidence.
One of the main reasons I went to NC A&T University as a student was because the living letters of recommendation by my family members! Many of them graduated there and their lives testified to the academic achievements of one life if they attended.
What does you life recommend to those in need of Jesus, a church home, a kind word, a hug, a helping hand. Do you represent Jesus, your Pastor, your church, your family? Do you highly recommend, through the way you live, evidence of what you say you serve with your mouth.
Heavenly Father, I pray that as you lead my family to a local church, give me living letters of recommendation for those who labor in you, for you, and that contribute ALL MINISTRY TO YOU, Pastor and membership after your own heart, that love people and believe in taking care of all and not just themselves. In Jesus Name, Amen
Personal Application: What does your letter of recommendation say? Write it out today!
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