Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you.
Summary: Letters are a unique and primary form of communication. This letter from Peter provides a valuable link to understanding our faith.
When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone? Do you remember? I have an uncle who is almost ninety years old. He does not use the internet. He has no email. If I want to contact him, I have to make a phone call, drive to where he lives, or write a letter.
Writing a letter is very different from talking in person or over the phone. When two people talk, what is said depends on what happens. Does one person interrupt the other? Do they pepper each other with questions or accusations? Is it a friendly conversation or a hostile one?
When I talk with people, I find it difficult to really listen. There are too many distractions that are competing for my attention. Some of them are my own thoughts! Sometimes I listen with my ears, but my mind is somewhere else. When that happens, I find myself wondering, “What did they just say?”
A letter is very different.
To compose his letters, Peter had to think about what he wanted to say. He had to organize his thoughts and meditate on them. Then, usually with the aid of a scribe, his words were committed to parchment, and copies were made. The parchments were rolled up, sealed, and sent by a trusted messenger to the people they were written to.
Most of our New Testament was written this way. Luke’s Gospel and the Book of Acts were detailed letters written by Luke to someone named Theophilus (Luke 1: 1-4, Acts 1:1). All of Paul’s writings were letters to churches or coworkers in the faith. Even Revelation begins as a collection of seven letters to seven churches.
Jesus never resorted to writing letters. The only reference to him writing anything at all is in John 8: 8, where Jesus writes on the ground with his finger. Instead, using the Holy Spirit as his intermediary (John 16:13), Jesus wrote through men like Peter, even as they used scribes to record their words.
And so we come back to our favorite fisherman, Peter. He is one of those whom Jesus made “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19 – KJV). Thankfully, our Lord thought to have Peter write these two letters so that we could hear about the Lord directly from him.
One unique and wonderful benefit of receiving a letter is permanence. The words rest quietly on the page, waiting for the letter to be opened. When it is opened, the eyes that read it see not only paper and ink, but the words. The words convey thoughts, and while thoughts might change, the words remain as written.
After two thousand years, Peter’s words still remain. This note remains worthy of our time to read. The power of God’s will and his Holy Spirit has ensured that we have access to the writings of one of Jesus’ closest disciples. We can read the words over and over again, and as we mature in our faith, the Holy Spirit reveals deeper insights into God’s Word, as recorded by Peter.
Application: Thank God for letters.
Food for Thought: If you were to write a letter to friends in the Body of Christ about Christian life, what would you write?
Interesting question. I could just copy or tailor one of the letters from Scripture that had the same purpose – the book of Romans come to mind. I am sure I would want it to contain the gospel and maybe practical guidelines for living the faith out in daily life. The great news is this is already done through Scripture. I don’t need to write anything new, I simply need to send the manual written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes plagiarism is the best route.
Rich,
You realize, of course, that you write your congregation a letter every week. It’s called a “sermon.” 🙂
(They are excellent letters by the way!)
Thank you brother. You are too kind.
I agree with Rich. Although I could share my experience of Christian life with others, anything I would say would be ancillary, if even that, to the scriptures. Hebrews 4:12; 2Timothy 3:16,17.
JEC,
I hope you do share your Christian experience with others. In fact, I know you do! You are both an encouragement and a mentor in the faith.
Not sure if it would be me doing the writing,..I believe it would be the Holy Spirit writing through me to others,..why would anyone want to listen to me?,..But through the power of the Holy Spirit then ears would perk up for the message to be heard by those that God wants to hear,..not everyone will respond to the gospel,..
John,
Two great points! The Holy Spirit does speak through us (Luke 12: 12), and this means that sometimes the words we share are little more than a channel that opens the door for the Holy Spirit to touch someone’s heart. Thank you!
These letters were written by those with a unique authority addressing specific things happening at the time. As far as authority, I have none. I’m nobody, I should fade into the background, not have people saving my writing to share and base congregational decisions off of them.
Yes, we can apply what was written then to our lives now. But isn’t the closest thing we do now giving advice to a younger child of God? If we see or hear something concerning in another’s actions and we think and pray and then bring it their attention, is that not our letter?
I suppose also, the question of whether they realized how long their letters would be kept. I would certainly write to someone if I didn’t have the pressure of the church for the next two thousand years looking over my shoulder! Luke was only writing to one person, many other letters were to one city of believers that they knew well, and only a few were originally intended for a larger audience than that.
Anyways, the question is what would I write? I would write my testimony or advice while heavily quoting scripture (just as those who wrote the new testament quoted the old testament and Jesus’ own words repeatedly). But usually, since I can, I meet with people face to face for these things.
A –
We have no say in what touches others or how God uses our words. That is well beyond our knowledge and power. Sharing your testimony and Scripture is a wonderful combination. I am certain that God will use those kind of words to his glory.
I would begin by praying, to seek what it is He would have me share because as others have said above, I believe it would be Jesus’ writing the letter through me. I would like to think though it would be a combination of my testimony and scripture. Not to sound cliche, but how I was lost but now I am found as I was not raised a Christian but became one. How I am perfectly imperfect and He loves me anyway.
Darla,
Thank you for sharing again! Your words remind me that sometimes just knowing that a brother or sister in the Lord is thinking of us can be a tremendous encouragement. I also appreciate that you begin in prayer. Inviting God into the process is essential.
If I were to write a letter to friends in the Body of Christ about Christian life, what would I write?
I like everyone’s comments; I feel much the same way. When I think of me writing a letter to friends in the Body of Christ about Christian life I think about what the purpose of that letter would be. The only reason I can think of would be to help strengthen someone’s (and mine too) walk with the Lord. Just as we have been blogging about over the last few weeks, I would reference Scripture and be sure that I’m not introducing anything that is not Biblical. I think the letter would go: here is how our walk is supposed to be going (according to scripture), here is how my walk is going, here is what can be learned from that. And that’s not intended to mean all the ways that I have not been able to walk as I should, but also ways that God has strengthened me.
Chris,
I appreciate your perspective: our words can and do strengthen others in the Lord. Sometimes, too, writing down our words can be a way of reaching people who are otherwise beyond our ability to talk with.
12-02-2021, 2 Peter 3:a, If you were to write a letter to friends in the Body of Christ about Christian life, what would you write?
Great question Jeff!
I appreciate and enjoy reading the comments by all.
Ron,
If you don’t mind, I would like to add to your comment. 🙂
Over the years here you have shared many words. You have shared what God has done in your life, you have encouraged us with your stories, and you have shared many, many Scriptures.
In the process, though I have not always told you this, you have helped me understand more about God’s Word and will. Sometimes you help me understand more about myself, too.
There is also the fact that you bring specialized knowledge and experience to the table. I know that you and Mr. T sometimes talk Grunt-to-Grunt. Being able to do that, to speak the lingo and share experiences is extremely powerful and is used by the Holy Spirit in many ways.
Blessings, my friend!
Thank you for your encouraging words Brother.
There are not many men I can sit and speak with for hours. Our common love for Christ has brought growth to both as we have stayed on our favorite topic, our God and His great love for all mankind.
You have been a real example of, Proverbs 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. As you have sharpened not only me, but all who participate in this blog.
God Bless You!!
Thank you, brother!