Sometimes a sermon series will catch my theological imagination so that I see faith in action all around me. I rather enjoy looking past my daily routines and rituals to see God's hand at work through faith shared in everyday activities. That is what happened for me when Gray began his new sermon series, "The Voyage of Life: What does it mean to get in the boat with Jesus?"
The text for yesterday's sermon was Luke 5: 1-11. Take a moment to read the story. Jesus was preaching the good news on the lake shore when he entered into a boat belonging to Simon and asked Simon to put out a little off the shore so he could continue preaching. Simon agreed and a friendship/discipleship was born. Jesus and Simon were strangers to each other, but God's will for something greater brought them together. The gift of faith was shared between the two.
Hearing this story, my mind did a Google word search on faith and gift. Having been trained in the art of pastoral care and counseling I am enthralled by the development of faith in our lives; both in how our faith shapes us and how we shape our faith. What this passage did for me; however was to reawaken me to the gift dynamic of faith. Strangers responding to a call from God to share the gift of faith for something larger than themselves (the Kingdom of God).
Suddenly, the minute for mission regarding the Beacon of Hope and its Baby Bottle Boomerang project fit right into the gospel story. Sharing our overlooked spare change is sharing our faith as a gift to strangers whom we will never meet, but whom God is tending to through the Beacon of Hope. And the Blood Mobile outside became more than a souped up van and looked more like a boat that our members got on board in order to share the gift of life with strangers they will never meet. Faith is God's gift of life to us shared through the blood of his Son.
How will you share the gift of faith with a stranger this week? You never know, you might have an encounter with the Risen Lord.
Prayer for Today
We thank you for the gift of faith, O Lord. Call us to share your gifts with those we meet this week, so that your Kingdom will come alive in our lives. Amen.
