4-29-2017

   Good Morning All,

                       Ephesians 2:8; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”

      Imagine, for a moment, that when you get your mail today; you receive a gift card to your favorite restaurant with a value of $5000.  It is a gift from an old acquaintance; quite a gift but a gift just the same.  What would you do? I don’t think you would just throw in a drawer and forget about it.   First you would go there a few times with your family and really enjoy it.  Next, you might think about sharing it with a few of your friends.

    Now perhaps you would call all the same friends.  You really enjoy their company and this would be a great way to celebrate.  Or would you think about some friends that you haven’t seen in a while?  Maybe when you children were in an activity you became close to some of those parents but now it has been a while.  This would give you a chance to reconnect.  Perhaps you might invite some people you just met.  Perhaps you would mix and match.

    Now after you have taken your family a few times and some friends a few times; you might look at your neighbors.  Perhaps you take the widow down the block.  Her husband died last year and it has been real tough on her; she might really enjoy a little fun again.  You always enjoyed their company and it might feel good too.  Maybe the family down the road who just lost their job could use a little boost.  It really wouldn’t cost you anything; the card was free, they would have some fun and you would too. 

    We have the greatest gift ever given; we have the forgiveness of sins and the certainty of heaven awaiting us.  We have this incredible gift that God’s wants us to share.  Yet many of us just put it in a drawer.  God wants us to share this good news of salvation.  He wants us to share with our family and our friends.  People we know well and others not so well.  He especially wants us to share it with those who are struggling with life right now.  There is no better salve than God’s wonderful mercy. 

    We are God’s redeemed children and we have this tremendous gift that we can both benefit from and share at the same time.  God’s grace is overflowing us and we cannot possibly contain it all so we might as well share it.  Share it with your family and friends but especially share it with those who are hurting right now.  God’s grace will always bring comfort and hope.  You don’t have to have a long sermon written out; sometimes a simple act of love or kindness speaks the language better anyway.  God gives us a gift, a gift to share and this is easily done with a hug or an ear that listens or hands that carry dinner or supper to someone.  We are saved by grace through faith; it is a gift, a gift worth sharing.

Gracious Lord, through your wonderful gift of forgiveness we have the hope for tomorrow and comfort for today.  Give us the desire to share this gift with those around us, especially those most in need of your comfort.  Open our hearts to them that we may be your ministers of reconciliation.  In Your most precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret