I wrote about 7 Versions of the Bible in my book The Word of God (Vol IV – The Way of Enoch). I was reflecting on that message this morning and the all-important Version 7 stood out. It is a great reminder of the fact that as Jesus’ bride we are His letter to the world.
2 Cor 3:2-3 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Here Paul referred to believers as letters (epistole; written messages). He told the Corinthians that they were the walking letter that he wrote; the visible fruit of his ministering the Gospel to them. They represented Christ’s letter to the world.
What kind of epistle are we presenting for those around us to read? Do we represent Jesus’ letter or someone else’s? It all comes down to the last part of verse 3: in fleshy tables of the heart. That is where the Word of God does its best work. In one of my wife Diane’s books of quotes for the day I read one that really fits here:
God is so big He can cover the whole world with His love… and so small He can curl up inside your heart. June Masters Bacher
I like that. That is where we will find Him as we open His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Him by bringing us into His very presence.
Seven editions of the Word of God and none more important than Volume Seven. That is the one we put on display each day. The one by which God desires to draw others into His kingdom. We need to take stock and see how ours is reading these days. Is it getting better every day?
As we read and study the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to use it to cleanse us, we are slowly but surely getting all the spots and blemishes washed from our wedding dress. And as the righteousness Jesus put in our heart begins to show on the outside, the world is attracted to the glory of God that is revealed. That is moving from the milk to the meat, from the Holy Place to the Holiest place, from the Cross to the Throne Room of God, from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. What does your letter say?