Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 3:1-3.
“1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:1-3.
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We can write our own letters of commendation, or others can be our letters of commendation. It is generally better for others to commend us than for us to commend ourselves. We can subjectively brag about ourselves, but it is generally better for others to objectively recommend us.
Ultimately, “our adequacy is from God” as is taught in the next section of Scripture, but there is more to today’s Scripture than just this one point that it is generally better for others to commend us than for us to commend ourselves. It is better for others to show our good influence on them by their actions than just by what they say about us. “Imitation is the best form of flattery” Charles Caleb Colton.
Accordingly, do people just think of us based on what we say about ourselves, our resume, our statistics? Or, do people think about us based on our family and friends and their resume and statistics (imitations of us)?
It is a humbling experience being a parent. For better or worse, we hear our children use the same phrases as we do. We see our children react and take action similar to how we do.
We all have heard preachers and teachers who draw all the attention to themselves and present themselves well. We just think: “That is a good man.”
But, we also know of coaches who draw the attention to their players, and we think: “That is a good team.” That coach teaches the players so well that the team is disciplined, unified, and makes fewer mistakes. The team has the coach’s fingerprints all over it and is successful.
We influence family and friends far more than we realize. In a way, our family and friends are like recording machines that record and copy what we do. This fact carries a lot of responsibility as well as honor in their being our letters of commendation.
In conclusion, beyond the natural influence that we as parents, preachers, teachers, and coaches have, Scripture supports us. Scripture exhorts our children, our congregation, our class, and our players: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 