WE ARE GOD’S LETTER TO
PEOPLE
-Stanislav
Kuropyatnikov
“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these
things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and
for those who hear you!” (1 Tim. 4:16)
Through Christians, their
ministry to God and people, their good works our Lord Jesus Christ is
glorified. Every Christian is able to become God’s letter to people. It all
depends on how we are going to write our letter (ourselves) to people. Would a
person be willing to praise the Lord and convert to Christ upon reading your
letter or not?
A letter starts when a person
believes and gets baptized (Mk. 16:16). At this moment, we start writing God’s
letter. We write in ourselves a letter that is not our own but God’s, trying to
imitate not this world but Christ. In other words we want to recreate Christ
within us. We do that so that when people see our actions, our works, hear our
words, i.e. read that letter, they could see Jesus Christ. Understanding that
the aim of the faith is the salvation of the souls (1 Pet. 1:8-9), we should
not forget an important biblical truth: “Even
so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (Jam. 2:17). Actions and works are the
ink for our letters. With the help of ink we see and are able to write some
information on the piece of paper and read it. The ink of our faith is our
actions, and when people see them, they can read about Jesus. Then they can
achieve the aim of the faith, which is salvation of their souls.
Jude says in his epistle: “But you, beloved, building
yourselves up on your most holy faith…” (Jude 1:20). A Christian
should build himself. However, in order to build something one should put forth
efforts and often times sacrifice something for that purpose. First of all, we
need to set time for prayer, following the example of Jesus, when He went to be
alone to pray to His Father. Apostles also gave a very big part of their lives
to prayer. Prayer is an important part of Christian life because is our
communication with God. Open your hearts before Him through your personal
prayer between you and God, just as our Lord has taught in Matthew 6:6. In His
turn God speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures (the Bible). While reading
it, we have to start doing what Christ has called us to do.
Matthew, the gospel writer, wrote
down the commandment Jesus Christ gave to His apostles that applies now to
Christians of twenty-first century: “Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:19-20). Apostles went and started
fulfilling this commandment that the Lord gave them. We can see that in the
book of Acts. They built themselves up, changed themselves, made mistakes, but
they got up and moved on, doing God’s will.
If we build ourselves in faith
and hope in God, we will be able to bring others to God, convert those who are
near and those who are far to Christ. Meanwhile, we ought to have a correct
attitude in spreading the gospel and try to keep as far from sin as possible.
And only time and our fruits will
show what kind of letter of God to people we are, and whether we could really
become God’s letter. Take heed of yourselves, build yourselves in God, and
don’t disregard the blood of Christ by disregarding His will. Bring His good
news to all people!
(Stas Kuropyatnikov is our work-partner in Lviv, Ukraine)
_______________
IN OUR PRAYERS- SHUT-IN: Jason Duke (Camden Health Care), Levi
Towater (skilled care in Mount Juliet),
Jerry Young (Lakeside in McKenzie), and
Kay Miles (at home). ONGOING: Hank Rook, David Spain, Ernest Thorne, Randy Hatch, Laverne Hatch, Vickie Cox, Dwight
Bullington, Ross & Darnell Cole,
and Mercedes Gibbons. UPDATES:
Mary Lou Christian (will return to Atlanta for a CAT scan and doctor
consultation on January 10th), Jill
Shomaker (in Vanderbilt Hospital), Margie
Martin (will see her doctor on January 4th), John Martin (at home not feeling well
last Sunday, back at church Wednesday night), Stephanie, Sydney, Seiley, and
Stormy Parish (sick at home), Charles
Sisson (having trouble with a swollen hand), Jerry Massey (has not been feeling well, but is somewhat improved),
Gaye Massey (sick at home), Ron Hogan, Sr. (Holly Young Hogan’s
father in law- will have triple bypass heart surgery soon), Samma Hastings (sick at home), and Muriel Larkins (at home not feeling
well).
SUNSHINE SISTERS: Dues are due today.
BUSINESS MEETING: Next Sunday, January 10th,
following afternoon services.
PANTRY ITEM: Canned Soup.
