God's Love Letter
(September 15, 2004)

      By Fern Horst

"Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart." (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)

I tossed and turned, not able go to sleep right away. As I pushed my hand under my pillow I felt a piece of paper. I couldn't see what it was in the dark but I could tell that it was folded. I snapped on the light and saw a homemade note, cut in the shape of a heart. Written on it in a child's handwriting were declarations of love accompanied with rows of Xs and Os. It wasn't signed, but I quickly deduced which one of my sister's children had put it there. My heart warmed, I turned off the light and was soon asleep.

Although my niece's note reminded me of her love, I didn't need it to know that she loved me. It was simply another expression of the many ways she shows her love. In fact, if there were no evidence radiating from her heart and actions that she loved me, her written note would have little meaning. They would only be empty words.

In much the same way, we don't need a letter of recommendation or certification from heaven telling others that we are followers of Christ. As the Holy Spirit lives in and through us, we become a letter expressing God's love to those with whom we come in contact. The Holy Spirit makes His imprint on our hearts, and in turn we radiate His characteristics, declaring to others not only to whom we belong, but what He can do in their lives also.

It's not enough just to tell others we are Christians. If our lives don't make it evident even without words, or if we don't display the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), we may be taken as hypocrites. Worse yet, those around us may decide that there's nothing real about Christianity and dismiss it for themselves.

Why not pray right now about how you can be God's love letter to someone close to you who may be doubting Him?

© 2004 Purposeful Singleness
www.singleness.org/dev_245.shtml

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