Letter of Recommendation

 

Letter of Recommendation

Philippians 2: ²⁵ I have thought it necessary to send to you our brother Epaphroditus, who has worked and fought by my side and who has served as your messenger in helping me. ²⁶ He is anxious to see you all and is very upset because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ Indeed he was sick and almost died. But God had pity on him, and not only on him but on me, too, and spared me an even greater sorrow. ²⁸ I am all the more eager, then, to send him to you, so that you will be glad again when you see him, and my own sorrow will disappear. ²⁹ Receive him, then, with joy, as a believer in the Lord. Show respect to all such people as he, ³⁰ because he risked his life and nearly died for the sake of the work of Christ, in order to give me the help that you yourselves could not give.

 

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Working hard made me gain a reputation amongst the owners of the bowling alley. It was easy to get them to write a letter of recommendation for me. But on the job that I missed opening the office because I was hanging out partying, I could not get a letter. In fact, I was fired.

 

• Both experiences shaped me.
• I was reliable on one job and unreliable on another.
• I did not know people were paying attention to me nor did I think it had any bearing on my future.

 

Paul spoke highly in his letter about Epaphroditus. He gave his best recommendation because both had gone through a lot together as they dedicated their life speaking about CHRIST. Like Paul, Epaphroditus “risked his life” for the sake of the work of CHRIST. Paul knew his belief was real.

 

My Observations

• All of my actions are seen by GOD.
• What is in my heart for others writes my letter of recommendation for myself.
• GOD knows when I am insincere and when I am sincere, therefore HE places me in charge of things HE cares about based on what I can handle.

 

Faithfulness to me means continuing in the hope when things seem extremely difficult. I mean, when it looks like all hope is lost, my faith has to remain in CHRIST. This may be contrary to what humans recommend. BUT GOD sees my actions and rewards me when I sincerely follow HIM.

 

HE knows the impossible labels people may place on me that may stain my character and HE says “He is tail useful to ME.” Only GOD’s character is perfect, yet he takes imperfect beings like myself, and sends him or her to speak on JESUS’s behalf. I gladly accept the plan GOD has for me and am grateful HE recommends me.

 

Challenge

• What stands out to you in this letter of recommendation?
• Do you think living for GOD has to be hard and uncomfortable for everyone?
• Will you simply “be” so you can live for CHRIST the way HE made you?
• Will you also show respect for more believers and let GOD judge his or her actions so you can be filled with praise to GOD more often?

Bear Letters

Bear Letters

2 Corinthians 3: Does this sound as if we were again boasting about ourselves? Could it be that, like some other people, we need letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read. ³ It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts.

 

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“Are they still talking?” I said with frustration. My father and a friend’s father seemed to be record holders for talking after church. As we sat in the car, bored, the conversation droned on and on. That “guy” ended up being a mentor to me.

 

• He guided me to GOD outside of what my parents taught.
• He spoke gently about CHRIST so I could understand.
• He let me be my own person so I could carry JESUS in my own way.

 

Paul spoke highly of the people he wrote to. He saw their obvious fruit in how they carried the message of JESUS. Each person had become a living “recommendation letter” written by the SPIRIT of GOD. They were building a collection of letters.

 

My Observations

• My heart has to be open to spreading the word of GOD.
• My actions are not mine but are examples of many people who poured GOD into me.
• My faith has been built by many people who took time to show me how JESUS wants me to act.

 

Bearing letters is the same as bearing fruit but with a slight difference. I mean, fruit may be something I do, never expecting something in return, or not seeing the fruit tree grow in another person. Bearing letters is taking the time to grow people to grow others. In both instances, I am not the benefactor, but CHRIST is.

 

Bearing letters is important to GOD. HE wants the right amount of encouragement, mixed in with patience, mixed in with a tiny dose of correction. The right mix will have someone follow JESUS for themselves and desire to have others do the same. I am glad GOD put many people in my life to guide me to speak about HIM.

 

Challenge

• Can you hear the words of excitement from the writer?
• What words of encouragement have you heard that makes you excited about JESUS?
• Do you have any words of encouragement for someone so they can bear their own fruit for GOD today?

Provide a Recommendation

Provide a Recommendation

Romans 16: I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who serves the church at Cenchreae. ² Receive her in the Lord's name, as God's people should, and give her any help she may need from you; for she herself has been a good friend to many people and also to me.

 

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“Do you know someone who can fill this position?” someone asked me. I was out of work and wanted someone to ask me that very question. A name popped into my head. I told him about the position and he got the job. I remained out of work. “What about me?” I said.

 

• There have been times when I wanted a recommendation, but had to give one.
• There have been times when I knew a person who was a good fit, but I was too caught up in myself to recommend him or her.
• There have been times when I wanted a recommendation but it seemed elusive.

 

Paul highly recommends Phoebe because of her service to the LORD. Paul still needed help, but wanted to help someone who helped him. He was dedicated to ensuring her success because she was dedicated to serving the LORD.

 

• GOD wants me to recommend others especially when I am in need.
• GOD wants me to help those who have helped me.
• GOD wants me to reserve my recommendation to those who can and will do HIS will.

 

Recommendations should not be thrown around lightly. I mean, my reputation is tied to the person I recommend. Yes, this will be an imperfect person, but I can count on this person to do what they have done with others and me.

 

Recommending people feels weird at first, but feeds the HOLY SPIRIT. When I cheer someone on, the HOLY SPIRIT gets a meal and makes me realize, it is not always about me. I gladly give my recommendation to those who serve the LORD.

 

• Are you too caught up in your problems to recommend someone you know is a great fit for a job or situation?
• Does jealousy win each time you are “overlooked”, causing you to withhold a recommendation GOD told you to make?
• Will you feed the HOLY SPIRIT today by being thankful for people and recommending “that” person for the job or situation?

Recommendations

Recommendations

Acts 16: Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. ² The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. ³ Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. ⁴ As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

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“Mind if I introduce someone to you?” a person from another department asked. “Please” was my reply, not knowing why I was meeting the person. I had a lot of work to do, and meeting someone was the last thing on my mind that day. “You have been recommended to lead a division” the person said. Wow! I didn’t expect that!

• I have been blessed to receive recommendations.
• I have been shocked that someone noticed what I was doing.
• I have been excited to work with those who believed in the abilities given to me.

Many believers approached Paul, recommending Timothy. After a while, Paul could not resist wanting Timothy to join him on the journey to teach the simplified message of obedience to new believers of JESUS. This recommendation paid off. Paul and Timothy spoke, many believed and the church was getting stronger.

• GOD wants me to seek HIM.
• GOD wants me to simply use the gifts HE has given me.
• GOD wants me to focus on HIM and HE will deliver me to the people HE needs me to speak to.

There are two ways to work. One way is to work to seek recommendations or “thank you” from people. While this brings moderate success, my rewards are only the “thank you.” BUT GOD wants me to seek eternal rewards which are given by HIM. This is not achieved by bragging and self-promoting.

GOD wants to be centerstage. My work for HIM should point to HIM. People may notice or they may not. BUT GOD always sees when I work for HIM with sincerity. I am grateful for HIS eternal rewards.

• Are you seeking to be known?
• Do you want to create a huge following for yourself, and not for GOD?
• Will you point people to GOD and allow HIM to change your approach so you become highly recommended without needing to boast?

Letter of Recommendation

Letter of Recommendation

Acts 15: ²² Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. ²³ With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:

Greetings.

²⁴ We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. ²⁵ So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. ²⁸ It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹ You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

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“Please provide three recommendations” said the potential employer. I had worked jobs I really did not like so I struggled to think of who would recommend me. I had to swallow my pride and ask the bowling alley owner, the janitor foreman and the dorm admin for recommendations. “I hope they say something nice” I worried.

• There were times when I worried about what someone would say on a recommendation.
• There were times when I did not give my best so I could not expect a good recommendation.
• There were times when I did not have experience so any recommendation written about me could not show the expertise I brought with me.

Confusion broke out in cities where Gentiles resided. Some people, who did not believe in JESUS being GOD, were teaching rules to follow GOD. The apostles had to do something, so they wrote a letter with specific recommendations for the Gentiles to follow. They also chose people who could confirm the words written in the recommendation.

• GOD wants me to be a witness to HIS word.
• GOD wants me to provide verification to HIS salvation through my actions and words.
• GOD wants me to be sent with HIS recommendation of what to do.

There is a prime recommendation that JESUS gives. No, it is a commandment. “Love one another.” This commandment solve and resolves every issue I could ever face. Even when people do not love me, GOD tells me to love them.

HIS love for me was so strong that HE died just for me. When HE was raised from the dead, HE put in motion a series of unstoppable events. I am grateful HE chose me to be part of HIS plan.

• When people have problems, what is your recommendation for a solution?
• Do you point people to JESUS as your final destination?
• Will you use your skills to recommend solutions for people, ultimately bringing them to JESUS?