«It is clear that Christ Himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God». 2 Corinthians 3:3, GNT
IN THE DAYS of the apostle Paul, letters of recommendation were common. In Greek scrolls there are multiple examples of these kinds of missives. In fact, the Letter to Philemon meets the characteristics of this type of letter documents.
Recommendation letters were useful to «the bearer of the letter to seek help, hospitality, employment, or instruction.» According to the information we find in 2 Corinthians, it seems that certain preachers who came to the city had to present these kinds of documents in order to be accepted by the community of believers. It is likely some had been bold enough to ask the apostle Paul himself for a letter giving testimony of their ministry. And the renowned preacher had to provide a clear answer:
You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read. It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:2, 3, GNT).
What a wonderful statement! Christ has made our lives a letter that proclaims everywhere what He has done in each of us.
Christ had turned the heathen, idolatrous, fornicating, gluttonous people of Corinth, the men and women who were immersed in the lowest sins, into an open letter to the world. Yes, that error-filled life was now the best recommendation of the effectiveness of Paul’s message. The recommendation didn’t have anything to do with what Paul had done, but with what Jesus had done. It is the Lord who begins to write that new redemption story. He begins to edit, correct, direct, and write a new script for our lives. And Paul acknowledges that God does all of that work, not him.
According to the apostle, that writing process does not begin on the outside, it begins in the heart. I don’t know how you view yourself, but Christ looks at you and says, «l would love for you to be a letter written by Me. Would you allow Me to begin writing on your heart?» I wonder what your reply will be.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Avineyda Hernández
