Letters of Recommendation
I love it when I read a verse in the Bible and it somehow has a whole different meaning from the last time that I read it. It's not hard to see that God's Word touches and instructs our lives in many different ways. Sometimes a verse can mean something different to the reader depending on what is going on in their life at that moment. This happened to me recently.
Currently I have started applying for several different jobs in the area where I live, to teach. Let's just say it...finding a job to start a career can be difficult. Not always, but it does take a lot of preparation. The potential employee must meet all criteria for the position, have school/practical experience, and have references that show them to be a step among the rest. You know what I'm talking about, that all important "Letter of Recommendation". For some careers, it is the letter of recommendation that separates the individuals who recieved and didn't recieve employment. This type of letter is extremely important. So, the work that goes into that letter is important as well. The potential employee must spend time showing themselves to be a diligent, successful, and reliable worker. In essence, they must work for a recommendation to work.
Today I was reading in 2 Corinthians and came across this verse...
"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 tablets of human hearts." - 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
This verse is very exciting to me but also overwhelming. Imagine you were walking around with words all over your body...your face, your arms, and even your clothes. What would those words say about your relationship with God and His relationship with you? What would those words say about your feelings of being a servant for the Lord? This verse in 2 Corinthians 3 is explaining to us that we are letters of recommendation for God and for a life lived serving Him. Our hearts are "read by all men". In our daily walks we have an ability to show those around us our outward letter. We can show them...
Our joy or our disdain in the service of our Lord.
- Do we gladly stop spending time with those bad influences in our life or do we begrudgenly follow God's will? Whether we believe it or not, our attitude writes words to our letter of recommendation for God and His Kingdom. Will our attitude encourage or discourage others from becoming people of God?
The true vision of being a blessed servant who belongs to God.
- Are we walking around as a clean lamp in the world or a lamp that has smudges and gives off less light? Though we profess to be followers of Christ, are we always showing that to our outside world? If we are to be effective letters of recommendation we should show what it is to be a true follower of God's. Let us not confuse others with following the will of God and of ourselves. Rather, follow the will of God and God alone.
The greatest treasure we own, the hope of Heaven that our merciful Father has given us.
- In a way, this doubles back to our joy. But instead of keeping that joy to ourselves, why not share it with others as well? Let's not just think of our hope of Heaven but share it with others. Let us not just walk around as a letter of recommendation but also share it in our speech. Share with our friends, our loved ones...for all should know of the glory and mercy of God.
What type of letters are we? Are we a letter of disdain, sadness, greediness...? Or are we the letters of recommendation that God needs us to be? Let us walk around and shining lights in God's Kingdom. Remember, the Devil has his own tricks and letters of recommendation walking out in the world. Let us overcome those evils and countinue our work for the Lord by bringing people to God.
I hope you all have a blessed day and week! :)
Let me know your thoughts below. :)
