“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written 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

Lately I’ve been dealing with a lot of recommendation letters. I wrote a letter for a young man at our church, my daughter is seeking out letters of recommendation for her college applications, and I had to come up with several personal references myself for an adjunct professor position at a local Christian college. Letters of recommendation are interesting because we try to find someone in a position of authority to write the letter. And usually, the higher the position the better. But I fear this may create in us a habit of living life with a desire to impress those with the most respected positions in society.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 should challenge us to think differently. The idea in this passage is that the everyday people in our lives are really our letter of recommendation. The question we should ask is not, “what would the people in the highest positions say about me?” but “how are each one of the people in my life effected and drawn closer to God through my walk with Christ?” We should live a life that touches our friends, neighbors, and coworkers just as much as it does the people in authority. Ask yourself, “what would the waitress at the restaurant or the checker at the grocery store have to say if I asked them for a letter of recommendation?” As followers of Christ, it should always be our desire, not to earn a written letter of recommendation from someone society sees as important, but to have a letter of the Holy Spirit written on the heart of every person we know.

Father God, give us a passion to live a life that spreads Your Holy Spirit everywhere we go. Fill us with Your Spirit and do a mighty work through us so that Your presence is left on the hearts of everyone we meet.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon