This series is comprised of letters written to the church of the living God in 2024 … written to believers everywhere to encourage, challenge, and inspire … written from the heart of a pastor, brother, father, and friend … Dylan DeMarsico. 

This series is called “Letters to Rachel,” because Rachel is a biblical figure we believe is prophetic for the church of this hour. Rachel and her sister Leah were the two wives of Jacob. Together, they built the house of Israel (Ruth 4:11). Leah was described as having “weak eyes” while Rachel was “beautiful in face and form.” Jacob was head over heels in love with Rachel. 

This speaks to different parts of the church, the bride of Christ. It is not really about people, but about two different ways of community and expression. Leah represents a church with weak vision, a religious church that doesn’t *see* the passionate, fiery love of the Bridegroom. Rachel, on the other hand, walks in the beauty of the One her eyes are fixed upon. She is a prophetic church who carries a clear and hope-filled vision.

It is through Rachel that Jacob had his world-changing son Joseph. However, it’s important to note that he had many more children with Leah. This speaks to the fact that parts of the church we might think of as “religious” or “vision-less” is not a fruitless enterprise. God is doing great work amongst his people everywhere and we have to guard our hearts against pride and disdain.

That being said, there is a “Rachel Company” arising in the beauty of Jesus who will bear the fruit of “Joseph,” the one who raised up to prepare a storehouse of life-giving bread in times of great trouble. It is to this rising company we write . . .

Dear Rachel, 

I am writing to encourage you to keep believing. We are living in exciting times. All around the world, people are awakening to the reality of Christ. The resurrected Lord is drawing all people to himself. If you are reading this, I would consider you a leader in this worldwide reformation. It will be good for me to start off with some basic reminders of our faith. 

The Basics

Creation started with a Father, a Son, and a Holy Spirit (some have compared Holy Spirit to a Mother-like-figure). They desired to expand the family which is exactly why they created us. We exist to be children of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To be partakers of the divine nature. To be just like Jesus. 

Through his death on the cross, Jesus already finished the work of salvation for the whole world. Let us walk with joy and confidence that all people belong to Jesus whether they know it or not. Let us walk in the aroma of Jesus so that we are a scent of the good news of the kingdom to the world around us. 

Remember, Jesus will come back and make the whole world beautiful again. For sure, for those with eyes to see, the world is already beautiful. And yet Jesus is still wanting to wipe away every tear and he is laboring through his church, his believers, to comfort the afflicted and bring good news to the poor. 

Encouragement for Those in Isolation 

We were created for family. One of my burdens in writing this today is for people who have isolated themselves from the family of God. People who have isolated themselves from people in general. Because we live in polarizing times, it’s easy to get offended by different groups of people (and then put them in boxes and stay away from them). This is not good, healthy, or God’s desire. 

I am praying for a Romans 14-15 company of believers who will be mature and bear with all sorts of weaker brothers and sisters. People believe weird things–they are easily swayed into random side tangents and get distracted from the main thing. But they are people nonetheless, perfectly made in God’s image and likeness, and we can do our best to bear with them to help build communities and families. 

There are a lot of prophetic Christians who are isolated and need more people in their lives. Not just people who will prophesy with them, but people who will eat food with them and be a part of their regular lives. That’s an important part of family–the human-to-human connection that God designed in the garden. We can’t always be super-spiritual, but need to be grounded in healthy relationships in order for our emotional lives to flourish. 

Take Risks

Take risks in the kingdom. Foster children, invite people into your home, attend a local church, and make friends. Let’s not hold back. Yes, seek solitude and spend time with God and find peace. But when you do that, be sure to have relationships in your life where you can share what you’ve received. 

Write books, articles, post videos online. Release the gospel in any way you can or know how. If you are in a season of rest and quiet, that’s okay. Pray and ask God how you can release the gospel in more secret ways that will bless the heart of God. 

Let’s make the most of our lives–not from a place of anxiety or panic or fear, but from a place of knowing we’re loved and that we desire to simply let our little lights shine. And let’s especially look out for the lonely. As it is written, “He places the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6). 

Prayer 

Father, thank you for the Elisha’s Riddle community. Thank you for the radical believers that have come together to enjoy your word together. Thank you for all that you’re doing in the earth–and give us eyes to see even more of what you’re doing. Thank you that your love is everlasting and we can have complete security in your eternal arms. 

Jesus, thank you for your work on the cross. Thank you for being the beautiful son of God. You are our everything. We have nothing apart from you and we have nowhere else to go but you. Even if we make our bed in Sheol you are there. Thank you for your passionate commitment to us. May every individual reading this know how close you are to them. 

Holy Spirit, you rock. Keep rocking our world with the million little miracles that surround us every day. We love you and thank you for bringing truth, comfort, and conviction to all people, everywhere, always.

______________________________

Cover photo by Sarah Penney on Unsplash