Nov 20, 2014 WE ARE LETTERS
2 Corinthians 3:2-3: “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of the human heart.” We tend to think that we live private lives, but the truth is that our life itself is a letter to all who come in contact with us. Even if one lives a life of seclusion, he nonetheless sends out the letter that he has chosen to live a life of seclusion; so he is thus known by others. The Apostle Paul was jealous of the followers of Christ as he wanted nothing other than the true gospel impacting their lives and it was his life ambition, his life calling, to see believers being transformed by the life of Christ. In the Old Testament we see where God’s law was written on stone, but in the New Testament we find the laws of God, or the ways of God, being written in human hearts. Because God has put His laws in our hearts, we no longer have to keep a list of “do’s and don’ts, but rather we can by our life now express what’s in our heart and this expression will reflect Christ Himself. As we come to understand this truth, we see that our lives or indeed letters, even letters of Christ! Because we are living letters, then it is imperative that we first know, and then express the gospel of Christ. The life we live is to be in agreement with the gospel; if not, then our “letter” sends a contradictory message. In a very practical way, for example, if our life is an expression of the gospel, we will we will find ourselves loving one another, honoring one another, preferring one another, etc. and obeying the commands that God gave to His followers. All of the New Testament is a letter from God by which we come to truly know our Father and learn our true identity. The epic battle in life is all about whether we live life according to our own dictates and understanding or we live as people who have been transformed by the power of the gospel. It is possible for believers to live a life that is not consistent with the gospel so we need to pay close attention to how we live; making sure our “letter” is a letter of Christ. Paul warned believers not to turn from “the simplicity of the gospel” because only in the message of the gospel do we find abundant life. The enemy sees to it that we are surrounded with distractions that would get our focus on anything rather than the gospel of Christ. At the birth of Jesus, the angels proclaimed that the birth of Jesus was indeed good news to those living on planet earth- that includes us! A Savior was born; a Savior who would reveal the Father to those who believe; a Savior who would pay the price for our sin; a Savior who would introduce His followers to a new way of living; a Savior who would give us a future and a hope! Let us examine ourselves, let us be living epistles, living letters that reveal the very heart of Christ to all we come in contact with.
John 1:1-5: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
Blessings,
Buddy
2 Corinthians 3:2-3: “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of the human heart.” We tend to think that we live private lives, but the truth is that our life itself is a letter to all who come in contact with us. Even if one lives a life of seclusion, he nonetheless sends out the letter that he has chosen to live a life of seclusion; so he is thus known by others. The Apostle Paul was jealous of the followers of Christ as he wanted nothing other than the true gospel impacting their lives and it was his life ambition, his life calling, to see believers being transformed by the life of Christ. In the Old Testament we see where God’s law was written on stone, but in the New Testament we find the laws of God, or the ways of God, being written in human hearts. Because God has put His laws in our hearts, we no longer have to keep a list of “do’s and don’ts, but rather we can by our life now express what’s in our heart and this expression will reflect Christ Himself. As we come to understand this truth, we see that our lives or indeed letters, even letters of Christ! Because we are living letters, then it is imperative that we first know, and then express the gospel of Christ. The life we live is to be in agreement with the gospel; if not, then our “letter” sends a contradictory message. In a very practical way, for example, if our life is an expression of the gospel, we will we will find ourselves loving one another, honoring one another, preferring one another, etc. and obeying the commands that God gave to His followers. All of the New Testament is a letter from God by which we come to truly know our Father and learn our true identity. The epic battle in life is all about whether we live life according to our own dictates and understanding or we live as people who have been transformed by the power of the gospel. It is possible for believers to live a life that is not consistent with the gospel so we need to pay close attention to how we live; making sure our “letter” is a letter of Christ. Paul warned believers not to turn from “the simplicity of the gospel” because only in the message of the gospel do we find abundant life. The enemy sees to it that we are surrounded with distractions that would get our focus on anything rather than the gospel of Christ. At the birth of Jesus, the angels proclaimed that the birth of Jesus was indeed good news to those living on planet earth- that includes us! A Savior was born; a Savior who would reveal the Father to those who believe; a Savior who would pay the price for our sin; a Savior who would introduce His followers to a new way of living; a Savior who would give us a future and a hope! Let us examine ourselves, let us be living epistles, living letters that reveal the very heart of Christ to all we come in contact with.
John 1:1-5: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
Blessings,
Buddy
RSS Feed