A Letter Prepared by Others

Yesterday we reflected on Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. He writes:

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all, 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.” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)

Now it is interesting. Paul says you are a letter of Christ, but then he adds, prepared by us… that is by his ministry and the ministry of others alongside him. So Paul is acknowledging that God uses others to help write this letter… that people impact our hearts and our lives in such a way that shape our values, how we live, and the kinds of relationships we have.

If your life is a letter, who has helped prepare that letter?

I think about my own life, I think about my mother and father – watching their generosity, hospitality, and care for others. My grandfather was another one who had a major impact on my life… Herb Meza was another. There were certainly teachers. Ms. Barringer, my seventh-grade teacher comes to mind. She had a heart for the underdog.

If my life is a letter, being written by Christ, there are many along the way who have helped prepare it. And I’m sure that is true for you as well.

The truth is that we do have a choice about who we allow to shape this letter… We have a choice about whose example we draw on…I know many of us have had people in our lives who may have betrayed us, hurt us, or given us a really negative example. And I know it can be tempting to blame them or blame other bad experiences for our own negative actions. But in truth, we do have a choice, don’t we?

No matter what our age is, this letter, which is our life, is still being written. Christ is still seeking to speak into our lives and to speak through our lives…

If your life is a letter, what do you want it to say? Who do you want to allow to shape it?

Let us pray: God of grace, we thank you today for the people who have impacted our lives for the better, and for those who even now are helping to shape our faith. Help us to ever look to the right people. We are grateful that you are not finished with us yet; through Jesus Christ. Amen.