Be the letter

Jonathan Fleming May 13, 2023 1 1

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2 Corinthians 3: 1-6 (NRSVA)

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; 3 and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared 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.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God. 5 Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

I used to love to handwrite letters to friends. I do not have the best handwriting, but there was something meaningful in pulling a fresh piece of paper out of my desk drawer or opening a nice card and beginning to write, “Dear…”.

There was something special about that letter being unique to me — my own feelings, written by my own hand, at my own pace…

For many it is a lost art. Perhaps I should start it again…

Today, Paul reminds us that our very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at us (2 Corinthians 3:3, The Message). Wow! Is it just me, or is that quite a thought!

If you were a letter, what would you read like?
Would it be a love letter where people could see into the very centre of your heart?
Would it be a letter of complaint, moaning about everything that is going on in your community, church or the entire world?
Would it be a begging letter, pleading for the pain to end?
Would it be thank you note, showing gratitude for all you have?

May we all be letters of encouragement, grace, truth and peace, penned in the beautiful handwriting of God’s spirit, enveloped in love and sent all over the world…

PRAYER:

Good and gracious God,
As your letters,
may people read them and smile,
learn from them and grow,
laugh and cry tears of happiness and relief,
reflect on them and give thanks.

And above all, may we be letters of inspiration,
directing readers to you
and turning them into followers.

Amen.