God’s Living Letters

MEMORY SELECTION: “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” —II Corinthians 3:2

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: II Corinthians 2:14; 3:6

THE King James translation of our memory text leaves much to be desired. The Revised Standard Version reads, “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all men.”

A considerable amount of opposition to the Apostle Paul’s ministry developed among Jews who came from Jerusalem and taught that to be acceptable to God it was necessary to adhere to certain precepts of the Law. This, of course, was contrary to Paul’s teaching, who taught that Christ was the end of the Law to those who believe. (Rom. 10:4) Because of this and other problems in the church, Paul’s spiritual burdens were great, for a wave of distrust in relation to Paul himself had swept through the church. Some questioned his sincerity and the authority of his apostolic commission.

Because of the suspicion and doubt generated by the Judaizers, the classes were asking for letters of recommendation from other groups, or churches, before accepting the apostles as teachers. The context seems to indicate that they had also asked for such a letter from Paul.

The Apostle Paul’s answer was, in effect, to call to their attention God’s arrangement for the edification of the church through divinely appointed servants. In Ephesians 4:8,11,12 we read: “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

The point of Paul’s argument is that he has indisputable proof of the authenticity of his apostleship, because his ministry among the brethren at Corinth through the power of the Holy Spirit brought forth much fruit. If he had not been an accepted minister of God, this would not have been the case. The fruitage of the Christian graces manifested in their lives made them living epistles, attesting to God’s approval of the Apostle Paul.

We, of course, should extend this lesson to our own lives, so that those with whom we have contact will recognize that we are different and that we manifest the Christian graces which result from our endeavors to pattern our lives after the Master.

One of the truly positive evidences that the Lord gives us that we are truly his is the enlightenment of mind that results from God’s Holy Spirit. We are told, in II Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ [or through the favor of Jesus Christ].” Then, in I Corinthians 2:12, the apostle tells us more specifically why our minds are enlightened, saying: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

This knowledge that results from an enlightened discernment of God’s plans and purposes not only is a privilege but also carries with it responsibilities. We are admonished in Ephesians 5:8-13: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit [light] is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”

The fruits of the light which become manifest as we endeavor to walk in the footsteps of Jesus are enumerated for us in Galatians 5:22-26 as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Those who manifest these qualities will surely be living epistles of God.

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