In his second letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul 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)

You yourselves are our letter.

In that culture, letters of recommendation were often used as a means of introducing or commending someone. And Paul is saying: You yourselves are a visible sign of Christ’s work in your lives.

Have you ever thought about your life as a letter to be read? If your life were a letter, what would it say? What would others read, when they looked at you?

I hope they would see Christ’s love reflected in your generosity and kindness. I hope they would experience his grace and love in your interactions with them, and in your care for others. I hope his peace would be present in the way in which you build bridges with those who see the world differently than you.

I like this metaphor because it is so true. When people look at our lives and how we live, they can see what we believe, and what we value. The old adage is true: You are the only Bible that some people will ever read. And this is true. Your life is saying something.

Christ is seeking to write a letter, a love letter, to the world on your heart.

If your life were a letter, what would it say?

Let us pray: Fill us anew with your grace, mercy, and love, O God, that these gifts would shine through our everyday words and actions. May the letter, that is our life, speak to the world’s deepest need. Amen.

There’s a story about some older men who gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their college graduation. Of course, they had all changed significantly over the years. Many of them had a little less hair. They were all a little grayer and more wrinkled.

As an ice-breaker, instead of providing name tags, the master of ceremonies decided that it would be more fun to have each man stand up in turn and have the others try to identify him using a college yearbook picture. 

As a group, they were able to name all but one person. Nothing about him seemed familiar. Finally, the man said, “Okay, okay! Obviously, you all don’t recognize me. But if you hang on just a second, I’ll give you a clue.”  He stepped away momentarily. When he returned to the stage, he had a young man by his side. “This is my son,” he said. “Now do you know who I am?” Almost immediately several of the guys called out his name. 

In the Christian faith, we believe that Jesus gives us the clearest picture of what God looks like. When we read about Jesus in the gospels, we see his compassion and forgiveness, we hear his challenge to live differently, and we feel his sacrificial love. 

In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” 

Let us pray: We praise you, O God, for you are a compassionate, forgiving, and loving God. We thank you for your Son Jesus who shows us your heart. Today, I pray for those who need to know your loving presence. Be near to them. Surround them with your grace – even now. Amen. 

The letters written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, really are gems of insight into the human condition and the way in which God in Christ seeks to come into our lives. Now no doubt, this was a church that had a lot of problems. There was infighting. There was some very questionable morality. There were abuses of the Lord’s supper. There was arguing over spiritual gifts.

Sometimes people say, “We got to get back to the New Testament church.” Well… there has never been a perfect church – because there are no perfect people!”

Even still, there is beauty in the struggle to grow and change. There is beauty in learning to forgive and learning to give, and in growing in the ways of Christ. And there is beauty in the gift of community, in spite of the challenges that it holds. I’m reminded that today there are very few places left where we can come together across generations and even political divides, and worship together, and serve together, and grow together.

I pray today for each of you for that gift of community – not perfect, but filled with the blessings of Christ.

Let us pray: I pray today, O God, for those who need you near. Meet each of us – wherever we happen to be on this journey of life and faith. Heal us… lead us… and fill us anew with your grace and love; through Jesus. Amen.

Today’s message was written by my friend, Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

Martin Buber wrote, “Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said, ‘In the coming world, they will not ask me, “Why were you not Moses?” They will ask me, “Why were you not Zusya?”’

Friend of Dial Hope, one of your main goals while on earth is to become who you really are… to acknowledge it and celebrate it. You are not Florence Nightingale, Mother Teresa, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong. You are you! So don’t waste time being anybody else but yourself. That will be enough of a challenge to consume your time and effort.

There is an Ashleigh Brilliant cartoon that reads, “I may not be totally perfect, but parts of me are excellent.” I contend that each of you has many excellent parts to your being, more than you might even recognize thus far on your journey. Different parts in each of you, but excellent ones for sure. Seek out your special identity. Then salute it, nourish it, fulfill it! And, remember, God doesn’t make no junk! God loves you.

Let us pray: God of love, be with those hurting this day. Be with those who are struggling with their identity, and who cannot find the confidence to take a step toward you. Be with those who are afraid. When life looks grim, paint our souls with color. When life looks hopeless, rain down newness of life so that we can stand up and walk… redeemed by your son Jesus Christ. For it is in his name that we pray. Amen.

Today’s message was written by my friend, Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

There is only one thing more costly than caring and that is not caring. It must break God’s heart when we are calloused, unfeeling, selfish, and uncaring. How do you treat other people? In the parable of the Good Samaritan, found in the 10th chapter in the gospel of Luke, the Samaritan is called good because he cared enough to do something good for someone in need. I have a physician friend who advises his patients to treat every person they meet each day, as if he or she were the most important person in the world. I like that! But, friend of Dial Hope, the Christian faith takes it a step further, a giant step further. We are urged to relate to every single person we meet as if that person were Christ in disguise. Wow! Try that for one day; it will change your life forever.

Let us pray: The world must have begun in silence, so God then moved to a crescendo of joyful music with a heavenly symphony crashing in rhythmic applause. Let there be light where there is shadow and joy where there is pain or depression. The blooming flowers, the gentle breezes remind us of hope for the renewing of our lives. Help us to think kindly of one another, to speak gently, to be creative listeners, and to behave with compassion. Transform our hum-drum lives into TA-DA! moments fueled by perpetual gratitude. Keep us laughing and caring because they are neglected on our agenda. Through the amazing grace of Jesus. Amen.