Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)
REFLECTION:
For many, many years the verse above was a part of the "signature" line on all of my e-mails.
Asking a pastor to pick a favorite verse of the Bible is a little bit like asking a car enthusiast to pick their favorite part of a car. All the parts come together to make the car function; and all the verses in the Bible point toward a greater Truth.
That said, there are a few verses that stand out to me as good snapshots of what it's all about, and the one above is, if I had to pick one, my "favorite."
This verse highlights the purpose of the Church. On Easter morning, grace was poured out on all humanity. That gift, as we will hear on Sunday, "is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away" (Acts 2:39). You can also read my devotion on this from a few days ago here.
Because that gift is for ALL, the Church's constant job, for around 2000 years now, has been to employ all of our energy and skills in extending this grace to more and more people. The image this always makes me think of is rock thrown in a calm pond...and the concentric circles, or ripple effects, radiating outward.
Sunday morning happens in our life...and its ripple effects radiate through our whole week.
Grace happens when we'd least expect it...and its ripple effects radiate through our whole lives.
A church is planted in a community, and constant ripple effects of service, love, and welcome are supposed to radiate out.
You walk into your daily life, and God uses who you are to send ripple effects into the world.
This is how God works. We are the stones...and His grace rides the waves!
And WHY do we do what we do as a church? Is it to gain notoriety for the church or ourselves? No.
Is it to "compete" with other churches, so we grow at their expense? No.
The verse above makes clear; this is for one purpose: for the glory of God.
For 8.5 years, I have had the true and deep honor of serving a church in Slinger, WI that understands this. Sure, we have had our issues as any organization of humans does; but through it all, the constant refrain has been: "We are blessed TO BE A BLESSING to others."
Many of you reading this daily devotion are members of St. Luke. To you, I offer my enduring gratitude for your partnership in ministry. These last eight and a half years have changed me. Taught me. Formed me. I have done baptisms, funerals, weddings, Sunday services...we have planned together, prayed together, cried together, and laughed together. I think it is the laughter I'll remember the most.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you...for understanding that church isn't a consumer good. We've said it often: we don't GO to church, we ARE the church. We don't come to consume a sermon and leave to do nothing with it. We come to be changed by an eternal message of grace, and leave to share it with "all those who are far away."
With that, I will mark the end of these daily devotions. While I will still be daily spending time in scripture, it is important for the health of St. Luke that those of you who are members there begin to move toward your next pastor. Begin praying for that person now. Somewhere out there, there is a leader who doesn't suspect that the next several years of their life will be spent with you. But God is preparing their hearts for transition, as God is preparing yours. I have no doubt you will offer that leader the same love, support, and forgiveness you have offered me. You are truly a gift. Cherish that. And keep it up. The world needs more churches that refrain from in-fighting, choosing to stay focused on extending grace to others instead...
And may it all be for the glory of God...!
Thank you...for the gift of being your pastor.
-Pr. Matthew Short
PRAYER:
God, transitions are difficult...but we know the only constant in life...is change. We know you traveled with your people through the desert for 40 years, and we know you travel with us now. We ask your blessing on the people of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Slinger, WI. Strengthen them in their natural gifts. Give them courage, trust, and peace. We pray that, as you prepare the next leader to serve with them, you guide the process and give everyone involved a sense of your presence in it all. Amen.
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