Story - The Letters

When was the last time you received a great letter from someone?

My Dad was a great letter writer. He wasn't very good at putting his emotions into words in person but if he took the time to write down his thoughts about something, you knew it was going to be special.

I suspect that whenever Christians around the Mediterranean received a letter from the Apostle Paul, they were pretty excited because they knew that whatever he had written, it was going to be something special. Out of the 27 books of the New Testament, 21 are letters written by early church leaders to congregations or individuals scattered around the Mediterranean. 13 of those 21 letters, were written by the Apostle Paul.

These are letters that were written to encourage, teach, build up and strengthen the early Christian Church and its members. These letters were so life-changing that they were copied and passed between congregations, eventually making it into what we now know as "The Holy Bible".

These letters are not just about 2,000 year old dead people and the issues that they were having. These letters are words that God continues to use to touch us today and change us into the people He is calling us to be.

You might not think that anyone has taken the time to write you a special letter lately, but you just haven't looked in the right place. God, working through his earthly servants, has written you very special letters. Open your Bible this week and read anything between Romans and Jude and see what God has to tell you this week.

CS

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9