Epiphany Lutheran Church

 

6606 Maplecrest Road, Fort Wayne, IN  46835    (260)485-5122

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March 2010

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.  Amen

“What’s it going to cost me?” That is the first question many of us ask when we need to do something around the house, to our vehicles, or when our children come to us and ask us if they can do something.  From early on in our lives we learn that with everything there is a cost.  If you want good grades you have to study and work at learning.  If you want to succeed in a career you have to put the long hours and work in making it happen.  If you want a marriage and family to succeed you have to put time and energy into those relationships to make them work for all parties involved.

I have been watching the Winter Olympics from Vancouver, Canada and the  different interviews with the Olympic athletes. For many of these athletes it has been a long struggle to make it to the pinnacle of their sport and to compete in these winter games. They have done everything from waking up at 4 am every day to drive into town to practice, to having car washes and bake sales to raise enough money to make it to the games. It got me thinking about our Faith in God and our Spiritual journey.  How much time do you put on average into your faith?  Is it only at meal times and on Sunday morning (or Monday evening)?  Is it only when things are difficult in your life that you spend the time in prayer with God?  God wants a relationship with us and will let nothing stand in the way of making that relationship work. God even sacrificed His only Son so that our sins would be forgiven to insure that our relationship would be on solid ground.

Too often I think our relationship with God is on an “as needed basis.”  We want a relationship when we “need” some problem in our life lifted.  We want a relationship with God when we “need” to get a better grade on a test or pass a health screening.  It is a good thing that God doesn’t work that same way, only coming to us when God “needs” to find a human to be God for in their lives. Thank goodness God doesn’t think, “I’ve already spent enough time with them. They can depend on someone else when they “need” to have some assistance.”

What kind of excuse have we refined to allow us to go on doing what we have always done justifying it by saying, “I promise I will be better tomorrow?”  What kind of justification have we laid out saying that it is okay for us not to be in weekly worship only because we didn’t feel like getting up to go after being out all Saturday night?  What kind of excuse have we made in our minds thinking, “All that church wants is my money. They don’t care about me?”

God is always more than willing and able to have that relationship with you any time, any place.  Why is it so hard for us to realize it?  Do we think there has to be more to it than just that?  Why do things have to be so complicated?  It is  simple.  God wants to have a relationship with you.  God wants to be a part of your daily life.  God wants to be an important priority in your life and help make your life complete.  What kind of excuse are we making now?  What is preventing us from making our faith in God a number one priority?  During this Season of Lent take some time to examine what is important in your life.  Is it really what you want it to be?  Is it really that important to you?

              

By Pastor Richard L. Hartman