Little Epistles

    How much influence does someone else have a portion of your life?  I do recall that in high school, there was a certain color of trousers for boys that was limited to only the senior class.  When you went to the Boston Store in the city, you had to ask for "senior Cords."  It was the coveted cream color trousers that only the senior were allowed to wear.  The school didn't say anything, but it was an unwritten rule that could not be violated.  My cousin decided to wear a pair when he was a sophomore.  The trousers ended up on the flag pole and his mother was called to bring him another pair of pants as he was trapped in the rest room.  Our actions begin to reflect our desires in some cases.   Second Corinthians 3:2-3 says, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart." 
       Paul reflected to the people of Corinth about the input that they had over the lives of other people.  We always desire that people read the Bible and we promote that as much as we can.  It is easy to get Christians to read the Scripture simply because they are Christians.  How do you get the unbeliever to read the Scriptures?  You can give them a copy of god's Word, but they may never read it.  Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were epistles that all men could read.  We have heard the expression that there are times when  the only Bible that people will ever read is the living epistle that is standing in front of them.  We are those living epistles just as the Corinthians were to those that were around them.  Your actions in the world today we be what people read. Sometimes, the message gets a little muddy because the actions are overpowering the words of our message.  Paul could say that he desired to people to follow him, because he followed Christ.  Can we say the same thing?  Paul must also have known that he was not perfect according to Romans 7, yet he still desired to have people following his example even as he preached to King Agrippa.  My Father had one of his sayings that went, "Put your mind in gear, before you put your mouth in motion."  You are going to be an example to others wherever you go today and the rest of your days, so may your example truly reflect your belief in God.  Praise God that He has given us the message of reconciliation.