I can only think of one time in my life when I had to get someone to write me a letter of recommendation. I was blessed with longevity in my professional career so it only came up once. And I was a little surprised to read the term this morning in 2 Corinthians, but it has given me a lot to think about today…
The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
As a new pastor (3 months in now) this gives me pause. The letter of recommendation for my ministry (and it applies to everyone by the way) is not going to come from another pastor or someone in the church. It’s the result of the work itself…the spiritual lives of those I am touching and reaching every day. Our letter of recommendation is written “on human hearts” not with “pen and ink”.
I wonder what my letter of recommendation looks like right now…
- Mystery or How-To?
- Short Story or Novel?
And this letter of recommendation comes from Christ Himself…”showing the result of my ministry”. Christ is writing the letter of recommendation. Can’t think of anyone better to write it…I’m just praying that the letter is shaping up to be a good one, a letter I’ll be proud to show others instead of shoving it in a drawer to hide it.
How’s your letter of recommendation coming along?
Post Tags: 2 Corinthians, Ministry
