Special Delivery!

I go through mail on a regular basis from three sources. We receive mail at our home, at a post office box, and I also go through the mail that comes to the church office. Some of that mail is eagerly opened, other mail is opened and set aside (i.e. bills to be taken care of later), while still other mail is discarded (or shredded) without even being opened (i.e. bulk mailings of no personal interest).

When we look at an envelope, there are usually two specific bits of information taken into consideration. Though the beautiful stamp and the postmark date may be viewed, it is the return address and main address that tend to bear the most significance, at least to the recipient. Perhaps the first thing done is to note the main address to be certain it has arrived for the right person. After all, it is a federal crime to open other people’s mail. Then the return address is viewed to determine the identity of the sender. Sometimes that return address tells the recipient whether or not the envelope is worth opening.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he stated…
“(1) Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? (2) You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. (3) And YOU SHOW THAT YOU ARE A LETTER FROM CHRIST DELIVERED 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 3:1-3 ESV)

The MESSAGE OF CHRIST Paul delivered to those at Corinth was special and it changed their lives. Having been written on their hearts, their life was a testimony to the difference that message made. Though Paul was the messenger, Christ was the AUTHOR of the salvation they had received through the acceptance of what Paul had taught; a teaching of which Paul aimed to continually keep Christ at the center. ( 1 Corinthians 2:2; 15:3-4) Therefore, their being A LETTER FROM CHRIST was to be exhibited in their daily lives.

Are we living as a letter worth opening and reading? Perhaps we claim to be “enveloped” by Jesus and “stamped” (or sealed) by God’s Spirit ( Ephesians 1:13; 4:30); claiming His Name is on our life with the hope others will be interested in taking a look. However, are we living a life that can truly be acknowledged as a MESSAGE FROM CHRIST? Has He truly become the AUTHOR of our life and faith? ( Acts 3:15; Hebrews 12:2) Is it His message that has been written on our heart and is now being translated into living?

Some may see the return address as Jesus and that the message of our life is being addressed to them, but then decide it is not worth opening and reading. However, there are those who will be interested when they clearly see the truth and genuineness of CHRIST’S MESSAGE being lived out in our life. Rather than being viewed merely as bulk, let us live in a way that the letter of our life may be accepted as a personal message by those whom we address in His Name. There is no delivery more special than the Good News associated with Jesus.

Have a great day BEING A FIRST CLASS MESSENGER FOR CHRIST!
Carl

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