A Little Goes a Long Way: 7 Days to a Significant LifeParaugs

A Little Letter

I was having a rough day but didn’t have the time to work through my raw emotions. My feelings would have to wait because I had an interview in 15 minutes and needed to push through. As I walked into my office, I immediately noticed a card propped on top of my computer. I removed the card from the envelope to find a note from my mom. Moments before receiving her letter, tears threatened to fall due to frustration and hurt, but now they fell in comfort and gratitude as I read her thoughtful words. My mom’s simple letter helped me regroup minutes before my interview. What impeccable timing.

This wasn’t the first impactful letter or note from my mom. I have a memory box full of holiday cards, lunch box notes, and words of wisdom she has mailed me to mark various milestones in my life. I imagine you have received handwritten letters over the years that you treasure, keeping them safely tucked away to read again and again.

I like to think of the Bible in the same way—as God’s love letter to me filled with wisdom and encouragement to refer back to again and again. His words meet me right where I am every time I open the Bible, reminding me of his presence in my life.

While the Old Testament and the Gospels contain their own treasures, the New Testament also contains epistles. The word epistle comes from the Greek word epistolé, which means “letter.” These letters make up the majority of the New Testament. Of the 27 books, 21 are epistles.

One epistle was written as a personal letter to a single individual (Philemon). The others were written to churches in specific cities, or the universal church made up of believers who never personally met Jesus. Most of the Epistles were written by the apostle Paul. He is thought to have written thirteen of them. The apostles Peter, John, James, and Jude wrote the rest.

Just like the early church, the Epistles are valuable to us because they show us what it means to follow Jesus in practical, everyday, authentic ways without having Jesus physically present. The apostles were able to reach hundreds and thousands through their original letters. Two thousand years later, they are still a gift to all who read them. I doubt the apostles ever dreamed the words they penned through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit would reach millions more. Could our letters do the same one day?

But it’s not just our letters written with paper and ink that can make a difference. Paul says, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, 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 3:2–3). Sweet sister, this is my letter of encouragement to you and a reminder to me as well. May our lives prove God is the author and that he alone holds the pen. Let him supply the words—you just be obedient to write them.

Your Little Task

Write a letter to someone who God places on your heart. Prayerfully consider what God might have you say to them.

Prayer Prompt

Lord, thank you for communicating, encouraging, inspiring, convicting, and teaching me through your Word. I treasure it. I am grateful for the apostles’ willingness to write the epistles, which I am impacted by today. May I also listen to your voice and be sensitive to who you put on my heart. I trust you will take the words on the page and bless the recipient now and for years to come. Amen.