“Where love flows, the Spirit shapes hearts into a letter written by Christ!”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 10, 2026
Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3
While delivering her father’s eulogy yesterday, our friend caused me to lean in. She recounted a meeting her dad (Gary) had with a potential business partner over lunch. Midway through their meal, he slid a recent photo of his family across the table to this seasoned leader in the manufacturing industry and, with quiet confidence, said, “This is my resume.” Stunned with curious delight, the new friend lifted the photo, gazed at the smiles and loving faces, then extended his hand and said, “You are the type of person I want to do business with, someone who invests in what matters most with love and intention.” What a powerful reminder to love those who matter most.
Paul wrote about having a “living resume” when he said, “You are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you.” He answered rivals demanding their credentials. Traveling teachers carried written letters of recommendation. Paul’s opponents flaunted theirs and asked, “Where’s yours?” Paul’s answer is stunning: they are. The transformed Corinthians, pagans turned worshipers, addicts made new, and a whole church born from nothing, were his letter, known and read by everyone. Written not with ink but with the Spirit, not on stone but on human hearts, they fulfilled Jeremiah’s new-covenant promise. Paul’s resume did not fit on paper; it walked around Corinth. His credentials were people whose lives were changed by Christ.
Dallas Willard, an early advocate of spiritual formation in our generation, reminds Christians of the need to grow into authentic disciples: “The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples — students, apprentices, practitioners — of Jesus Christ.” As Willard states, we who are more seasoned followers of Jesus can help others, beginning with our families, grow as students, apprentices, and practitioners of Jesus Christ.
Here are a few ideas I learned yesterday from Gary’s life. Being intentional with my family so they, in the power of the Holy Spirit, grow more like Jesus, will be my “living resume.” Have a plan, invest time and money, and keep love as the relational lubricant. Have a plan. Families don’t drift into Christlikeness; they’re led there. Gary knew his people needed shepherding: rhythms of worship, milestones celebrated, and hard conversations initiated on purpose. A plan turns good intentions into faithful practice, and faithful practice is what the Spirit uses to shape hearts over decades. Invest time and money. You reveal your priorities by your calendar and your bank account. Gary spent both extravagantly on his people: meals together, trips taken, tuition paid, needs met without being asked. Time and money are the tangible carriers of love; withhold them and love becomes an idea; deploy them and love becomes an inheritance. Keep love as the relational lubricant. Families create friction: pride grinds against pride, expectations against reality. Love softens the gears. Gary forgave quickly, listened long, and refused to let grievances harden into grudges. Where love flows, the Spirit shapes hearts into a letter written by Christ!
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” (Philippians 4:1).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, make my life a letter from Christ. Write Your Spirit on those I love. Let my credentials be the transformed hearts around me — my family, my friends, my legacy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Today, name three people who are your “living letter.” Thank God for each. Invest in one this week with a call, a meal, an encouraging word, while your ink still writes.
Related Reading
Jeremiah 31:33; Proverbs 3:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; 3 John 1:4
Worship Resource
Nicole Nordeman: Legacy
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