A sublimely rich quality of the New Testament is the fact that the books themselves are in the form of letters. Some were to churches, others were to individuals in particular, but the fact that they are letters means they carry with them an immensely personal touch.
For example, consider Paul’s letter to Philippi. His personality and love for a church that loved him is obvious from the first few lines. “I thank my God in all my remembrances of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership with in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-4). That says it all for me. I think it would have been no insignificant thing to have been such an intimate part of the prayer life of Paul. His love for his Philippian family was able to be expressed through a sentimental letter and in more ways that just one he conveys his thoughts about them.
Consequently, I have a desire to use “letters” to express sentiments to some to a few of my family and friends. I am in the process of writing each a letter that will be posted on this site, but also printed and mailed to each one. My prayer for those about whom I write is that they know how I feel about them. My prayer for other who might read them is that they find the desire to let those they really care about know it too!
