We Are Walking Recommendation Letters
“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, 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 3:2-3 (NIV)
Recommendation Letters.
Every time I’ve sat down to write one for an intern or ministry friend of mine, I’ve googled what makes a good recommendation letter. If you were to do so, you’d find the same words appear over and over like hard-working, dependable, trustworthy, honest, fair, and even pleasant, compassionate, and generous. When we are recommending someone for a position or job, we’re striving to highlight the best that individual has to offer. Many times, a letter of recommendation is the deciding factor in the hiring or placement of the said applicant. This is because, on a resume, the applicant can say whatever they want about themselves, true or not. But a letter of recommendation is from an outside source giving an accurate and truthful account of them.
So when I read 2 Corinthians 3: 2-3, I’m awestruck with the idea that we are Christ’s letters of recommendation. If we were to write a letter of recommendation about Jesus, one to help unbelievers see He is worthy of the position He’s hoping for in their lives—that of their Lord and Savior—the attributes from my internet search would certainly appear in it, plus many, many more. This—us being a recommendation letter for Christ—is both an honor and a heavy task, but a worthy purpose for believers. When I think about my life this way, I see how this God-given purpose rewards not only me but those around me.
Since we are His letters of recommendation, everyone who meets us should claim we are hard workers, reliable, trustworthy, just, joyful, kind, and generous. Now, we can only come close to achieving this lofty goal because of the Holy Spirit living inside us, but by doing so, we prove we are His people, that His Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. We are walking letters of recommendation for Jesus!
So then, we have a lot to live up to. People are counting on our lives to display all the attributes of God, thereby proving His existence and love for them.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Are you up for living out this purpose directive from God?
2. What attributes do you display of God well? Which ones need work?
Let’s pray today for the Holy Spirit to help us live our lives as Christ’s letters of recommendation.
