I had two wonderful pastors as a boy growing up in Western Montana… Pastor Leon Mitchell and Pastor Kenneth Peterson – Wonderful, godly men who served the Lord, their congregations and communities very well (now both with the Lord). Men I could look up to, role models, consistent and caring. Men of “the Word”, the Spirit, prayer, faith, hope and love.
I’m giving them this brief tribute today… but they really don’t need it… the lives of the people they served really provide the tribute – their recommendation. Thought about that this morning as I read this passage during “coffee with the Lord”… 2 Corinthians 3:1–6
“Do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 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. Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
Now the impact of these men has been great on my life … I’ve followed in their footsteps and have served as a pastor for many years. At SAGU (Southwestern Assemblies of God University) and elsewhere I’ve trained pastors. Oh how I love those I’ve served! What an honor to have invested in their lives! IF I NEEDED A RECOMMENDATION, I’D LOOK TO THEM AS MY RECOMMENDATION! CHANGED LIVES! NOTHING LIKE CHANGED LIVES!
Coffee With The Lord 