You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 2 Corinthians 3:2I
I wonder if you, like me, were troubled by this verse referring to our lives being a letter of Christ to one another. It really made me realize how important my actions are for Christ’s reputation. As most of us know in the beginning the law of God was written on stone tablets, but with the new covenant God said He would write the law on our hearts. Jeremiah 31:33 states:
"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days." declares the Lord. I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. "
No matter how desperately I desire my life to read to others as a letter from Christ I am all too well aware of the impossibility of being that left to myself, and I am sure you realize that is true for you also. That is why we must read on in 2 Corinthians 3: 4-6,17
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of ourselves, but our adequacy is from God who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty."
My conclusion is for my life to be a letter of Christ to others I must keep myself filled with the Holy Spirit that I might live a Spirit led life of obedience to my Master. Notice Paul says He has made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. We are no longer under the law of the letter, but of the Spirit. We are servants by choice. We must understand a servant is only allowed to obey the Master. Servants cannot serve their Master by performing their will from their own initiative. They must do nothing the Master has not initiated by the leading of the Holy Spirit. I believe this is what it means to become a letter of Christ. He must be the one doing the writing on our hearts that are totally surrendered to Him. And this means waiting on His instruction before we act throughout each day. It requires being very intentional in hearing His voice speak to us through the Holy Spirit, and hiding His Word in our hearts daily that we will not sin against Him.
Does this sound hard, and like you are losing your life? Matthew 10:38-39 states:
"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."
I know this is true. In surrendering my will for His I have gained freedom from my sin and my flesh. His ways are far superior to mine which enables me to live life abundantly as He promised. (John10) I experience a deep, satisfying peace and contentment that only He is able to give. He is the Prince of Peace.
Finally our last scripture in 2 Corinthians tells us where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. This is very true also. What we allow crucified of our flesh He resurrects in the Spirit! It is another great Biblical exchange.
May we all allow God to write His Word on our hearts through meditation and prayer in order that our living example would truly manifest the fragrance of Christ wherever we go. We must stay conscious that our lives are being known and read by all men every day as we write our letters by what we say and do. Let us remember the words of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6
In His love.
Photos taken yesterday off the Blue Ridge Parkway hiking in the Rocky Knob Ridge area. It is one gorgeous location with much to offer!
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
