The Fine Print: A Letter of Recommendation
- Jul 7
- 5 min read
Your Life as a Testament of God’s Work
Have you ever needed a letter of recommendation? Maybe for a job, a scholarship, or even a leadership role. Or perhaps you’ve written one for someone else, vouching for their character, work ethic, and readiness.
Think about it—why do people even ask for a letter of recommendation? Because they want to know who they’re dealing with. They want evidence of a person’s integrity, reliability, and value—something more than a résumé can show.
Now imagine this: what if I told you that your life—how you treat others, what you do in private, what you value when no one’s looking—is a walking, living letter of recommendation for the Kingdom of God?
What is your letter saying?
Let’s dive into the truth hidden in the details of Scripture.
Letters Written on Hearts
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul offers a powerful picture of what it means to be a believer. He says we are “letters from Christ,” not written with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (v. 3).
This isn’t a metaphor to gloss over. Paul’s telling us that our very lives are supposed to read like a testimony. We are the evidence of Jesus' love, the proof of His power, the endorsement of His grace—written not by hand, but by the Holy Spirit Himself.
They didn’t need physical letters to prove they belonged to Christ—their transformed lives were proof enough.
Application:
Just like a letter reveals someone’s character, your life reveals the message of the One who authored it. What story is your life telling today? Is it one of grace, truth, transformation—or is it still being rewritten by God’s hand?
Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
Paul draws a powerful distinction between the old covenant and the new—but let’s not rush past the old. It wasn’t a mistake or a failed plan. It was sacred. It was necessary. And it reveals the heart of a holy, loving, and orderly God.
The old covenant—written on stone, like the Ten Commandments—reflected God’s perfect standard. It revealed His holiness, His justice, and His desire for His people to live set apart. When I began studying the Old Covenant more closely, it shifted my whole perspective. These weren’t just rules—they were God’s structure for a people who had never known freedom.
Think about it: the Israelites had been enslaved for generations. They lived under oppressive systems, harsh taskmasters, and rules that dehumanized them. So when God delivered them, He didn’t just free them from something—He was bringing them into something new. And that required order, identity, and a clear understanding of what it meant to live as His chosen people.
The commandments were never meant to crush them—they were meant to shape them. To reveal God’s character and establish a new culture. One rooted in love, not fear.
But even with all their value, the commandments couldn’t change hearts. They could guide behavior, but they couldn’t cleanse the soul. That’s where the new covenant comes in.
Under the new covenant, the law is no longer just written on stone—it’s written on our hearts. It's not just about doing what's right, but being made right. We are no longer striving under the weight of "do this or else,” but living in the invitation of “be transformed by Me.”
“For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” – 2 Corinthians 3:6
Application:
Take a moment to honor the foundation God laid through the old covenant. Its order, structure, and holiness still speak today. But don’t stop there—step into the greater promise. Let the Spirit write on the soft places of your heart, where rules once tried to reach. Are you living by pressure or grace? Let obedience flow not from fear, but from love.
The Greater Glory
Paul goes on to say that the glory of the new covenant far exceeds the old. Moses’ face once shone with the glory of God—but even that glory faded. The glory we now carry through Christ doesn’t fade; it grows.
The old covenant said: “Look at how holy God is.” The new covenant says: “Look at what His holiness is doing in me.”
Application:
God’s glory in your life isn’t supposed to be a one-time moment. It’s an ongoing transformation. Reflect on where God’s presence has brought lasting change. Let that become part of your living testimony.
Unveiled Faces and True Freedom
Moses had to veil his face because the people couldn’t handle the radiance of God’s glory—but in Christ, the veil is removed. We’re not hiding anymore. We have full access to God, and His Spirit transforms us “from glory to glory” (v. 18).
This isn’t about behavior modification. This is heart transformation.
Application:
Don’t approach God like He’s distant or restricted. Come close unveiled. Let the Spirit of God do a deep work in you. Let freedom ring in your thoughts, decisions, and worship.
When Love Leads, the Letter Lives
When love takes the lead, obedience flows from relationship—not requirement. The truth is when love leads, your life becomes a testimony. A living letter of recommendation. Not written with ink, but by the Spirit of God. Not on paper, but on the tablet of your heart.
So what might that letter say? Let’s imagine a heavenly version of your letter—based on God’s Word and written by grace.
📜 Letter of Recommendation — From the Spirit of God
To Whom It May Concern,
This letter serves as a testimony on behalf of [Your Name], a beloved child of God and a faithful witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Their life is not perfect—but it is marked by transformation. They have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11).
You will find in them the fruit of the Spirit: love that remains steady, joy that isn’t shaken by circumstance, peace that passes understanding, patience when it’s not easy, kindness in hidden places, goodness without applause, faithfulness in the mundane, gentleness in the storm, and self-control when no one is watching (Galatians 5:22–23).
They walk in the light, not by their own strength, but by grace through faith. They are being renewed day by day, conformed to the image of Christ, and led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14, 2 Corinthians 4:16).
This letter is ongoing, being written with every act of obedience, every quiet moment of surrender, and every time they choose love over fear.
Their life is not a letter of perfection. It is a letter of pursuit. Of presence. Of power made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I, the Spirit of the Living God, bear witness to the One who writes this letter through them. May their life point to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith.
Sincerely,
The Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:2–3)
Application: This is the kind of letter your life is becoming—written by God, read by others. So, what’s being read? What chapters need to be rewritten by grace? What testimonies are unfolding right now that could only be authored by Him?
Let love lead. Let your life speak.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for being a faithful Father. Thank You for being a covenant-keeping God. Thank You for Your sacrifice. Engrave Your truth on my heart. Shape my heart to look like Yours in all things.
Jesus, forgive me for all the times my letter of recommendation wasn’t in good standing—but You still signed Your name on me. Thank You for Your transforming power.
Today, I choose You. Teach me Your ways. Thank You for being the Author and the Finisher of my faith.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Hey friend, we now have a special form you can fill out if you’d like to receive prayer.
👉 Click here to submit your prayer request. We believe in the power of agreement and would be honored to stand with you.
Let this be your takeaway: You are a letter of recommendation from Heaven. Not because you’re perfect—but because you’re being perfected.
📖 Let every interaction, every thought, and every response reflect the One who signed your name in His book.
