Letters of recommendation

Thursday 4-3-15 (Martinez, Argentina)

Scripture reading:    Judges 17-18     Ps 89     2 Cor 3

S.   2 Cor 3:1-3  Are we beginning again to tell you how good we are? Some people need to bring letters of recommendation with them or ask you to write letters of recommendation for them. But the only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves! Your lives are a letter written in our hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts.  NLT

O.  The Apostle Paul was doing a lot of travel.  He would often stop in a city for the first time and be invited to speak in a local Jewish synagogue.  There he would present Jesus as the Messiah, His life, this crucifixion and His resurrection.  This caused havoc over and again among the Jewish leaders.  He was even being questioned by Jewish Christians for preaching grace, instead of law to the Gentiles.  But he now declares that he is carrying a letter of recommendation with him.  It is the fame of his converts.  Lives have been transformed by the power of Christ.  These that have chosen to follow Christ had become his letters of recommendation.

A.  A good letter of recommendation can make all the difference.  Dr. Milliken was one of the three founders of Western Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary where I had enrolled as an 18 year old kid.  He was 82 years old and still taught Greek and other classes.  I respected him highly.  He had a son, Frank Milliken, that owned service stations and petroleum distribution company.  I got straight A’s in Dr. Milliken’s classes, so when I was needing a night job, he recommended me to his son.  After classes I drove tank truck delivering gasoline and diesel fuel for two years and worked at night in his service station.  When Frances and I were married and moved to Southern California to attend what is now Vanguard University, I needed a recommendation letter to help me get two similar jobs in Anaheim.  Frank Milliken prepared for me a recommendation letter on his stationery that was incredible.  I was sure I didn’t deserve such.  I showed this letter to a petroleum distributer, Mr Shipkey, in Anaheim.  He did not need a worker, but he hired me anyway and immediately I was given two jobs… day and night. 

Years later when I was applying for appointment as a missionary I had made many friends among the ministers in my district.  They probably swamped the desk of the AG missions committee in Springfield with letters of recommendation.  It makes a difference.

Today I am not looking for employment, but I see young men and women that were converted in our efforts preaching on street corners, in city parks and rented buildings.  My eyes fill with tears of joy, when I see them today.  They are my letters of recommendation.  Certainly I cannot claim their incredible success as mine… but they are my letters.

P.  Lord, keep them under Your tender care.  These are my spiritual sons and daughters.  A few of them have fallen by the wayside.  Oh what tragedy and pain!  Most of them, however, continue true to You and have grown into men and women of integrity.  I pray for those few that have failed.  May they not miss heaven!  May they respond to Your grace and mercy.  And to the dozens, scores, maybe hundreds of Your faithful servants… may you give letters of recommendation in their much fruit of eternal souls saved and their new workers raised up.

Ralph