Tag Archives: 2 Corinthians 3

You and I are a reflection

 

“The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.” “He’s a chip off the old block.” Colloquial phrases observe how we bear resemblance to those who have gone before us and  who have influenced us by their presence. Sometimes, we reflect the physical likeness or mannerisms of our parents. Even when we attempt to flee from such resemblance, we often end up bearing some mark of likeness. But genetic traits aren’t the only thing that are passed on. The collective influences of others are also written into the story of our lives. Maybe you’ve learned patience from someone who was patient with you, the art of encouraging others from one who encouraged you, or the gift of generosity from one who generously invested in you. They are stories written onto the pages of your life, waiting to be poured out into the pages of other lives.

 

We’re reminded in 2 Corinthians 3 that when we submit to God, he writes his story into our lives. We become in fact, “a letter from Christ” (v 3) IF we allow him to speak into the every day pages of our life., both the victories and the sorrows. Your letter, and mine, is read by those around us. To others, it is a reflection of who God is. It gives me cause to reflect what kind of a letter I am: one of hope or worry, contentment or discontent, one of peace or discord, what of insisting my own rights or looking to put other’s interests above my own.

 

It’s humbling to recognize that God’s intent is to write his story (History) into our lives so it can be reflected to others. And humbling too, to reflect on what wasted efforts I sometimes insert into my own story that distract from the main plot of God’s intent. Whatever the state of your story, it’s not yet finished. There are more pages and chapters to be written. Today can be “The Turning Point: The day things changed.” With God’s help your story can be “transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory.” (V18)

 

Let God speak into your life, your desires and ambitions, your worries and doubts, your hopes and fears. And watch with joy, how your pages reflect more and more of his endless love and amazing grace.