a letter from Christ

And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:3

Every Christian that is born again through belief in the gospel, who through the ministry of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit grows in conviction to follow Jesus, is a “living letter” of recommendation for the power of disciple-making gospel ministry. Every disciple is a true testament to transformation by Jesus. We must faithfully proclaim the gospel. We must faithfully teach sound doctrine. We must faithfully encourage holy living in Christ. The power behind it all, the Spirit of the living God, will write this continuing story in our hearts for generations to see.

This was true even in situations where Christians in churches struggled to follow well. The Corinthian Church was this wonderful story in spite of past conflict, divisions, and willingness to tolerate immoral relationships in the church. Despite their struggles, the gospel prevailed and made them into “a letter from Christ”. If Jesus would write His story there, He can certainly write it in broken lives even now!

Lord,

I think of the challenges I present as You write Your beautiful story of grace in me as I struggle. Forgive me when I have selfishly chosen a favorite sin over Your Lordship. Sometimes I am just lazy…sinfully so. My heart can crave comfort over growth. My heart can turn to sinful, soothing past behaviors when You are trying to make something wonderfully new and powerful in their stead. My heart can fuel itself on anxiety when You are longing to pour out Your peace into me. My heart can seek praise for myself rather than humbly give it all to You. My heart can judge and bitterly increase selfish agendas and explanations, huddling deeper in self-righteousness, rather than submit to loving all people as You do and working things out in Christian family in the church. Lord Jesus, I pray that Your Spirit keeps showing me where my inner sins must be forsaken so that in my heart Your letter of love, Your epistle of encouragement, and Your transformative truth can remake me to be Your glorious story for others to clearly celebrate what Your hand has written!

Amen